Jaishankar calls for UN reforms, warns global order is under 'intense pressure'

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has called for stronger multilateral cooperation and reform of global institutions, warning that the international order is under growing strain from intense competition, geopolitical tensions and continuing conflicts.

He was speaking at the Partners for Multilateralism, International Law, Peace and Prosperity (P4M) Summit in New York, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The summit was co-chaired by Mr. Jaishankar and European Council President António Costa.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Jaishankar said multilateralism must be reinforced so that international cooperation can be upheld and emerging global challenges addressed.

“The 4F crisis of Fuel, Food, Fertiliser and Finance cannot be left to itself,” he said. “Where there is a threat of chokepoint dominance and disruption, de-risking and diversifying must be encouraged. And where there is a compelling cause or a powerful case, the like-minded must have the confidence to come together.”

He added that multilateralism would be best served when international law, rules and norms are scrupulously observed, and reiterated that more participative deliberations and transparent decision-making are overdue.

The P4M initiative, founded by the leaders of the European Union, Brazil, Kenya and Canada, is expected to make a pitch for the grouping during the General Assembly’s high-level debate this week.

In a joint editorial, the co-authors said the Partners for Multilateralism would not create another exclusive bloc or an international bureaucracy.

“Its purpose is the opposite: to create a flexible, open framework for countries from different regions and political traditions that are willing to work across divides, to build coalitions for reform and to translate shared principles into practical action,” they wrote.

The co-authors cited two sets of figures they described as evidence of mounting strain on the present international order. They said 2025 recorded the highest number of state-based armed conflicts since 1946, spread across 35 countries, along with the highest recorded military spending of nearly $3 trillion.

The call for “reformed multilateralism” has been a recurring theme in India’s foreign policy messaging. New Delhi has long argued that the UN Security Council reflects the power arrangements of 1945 rather than those of the present day, and has sought its expansion, including a permanent seat for itself. Similar demands for a greater voice have been made by other developing countries, which have also pressed for reform of international financial institutions.

Those arguments have gained a wider audience in recent years as the Security Council has remained divided over several major conflicts, limiting its ability to act. The P4M grouping, whose members come from different regions and political traditions, has framed its purpose as building coalitions for institutional reform rather than setting up a rival forum.

Officials familiar with the grouping’s plans said its members intend to keep the framework open to countries willing to work across divides. The summit in New York is among a series of meetings being held alongside the General Assembly’s annual gathering of heads of state and government, where reform of global governance is expected to feature prominently in the discussions.