External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted the current global trend of increasing competition and decreasing cooperation, stating that the world is experiencing a shift towards conflict rather than collaboration. Speaking at the Aravalli Summit on ‘India and the World Order: Preparing for 2047’ at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jaishankar emphasized the significant changes happening across various aspects of human activity, such as trade, technology, energy, and warfare, within a short period.
He noted that the world is witnessing a transformation where interests intersect more than promises of cooperation, leading to what he termed as the “weaponisation of everything.” This shift includes the use of technology, data, finance, and supply chains as tools by countries with fewer inhibitions.
Jaishankar pointed out that sovereignty is being undermined by technological manipulation, and global rules and regimes are being reconsidered or discarded. He mentioned that economic decisions are no longer solely based on cost but also on factors like ownership and security, with increased risks due to concentrated production, limited supply chains, and reliance on specific markets.
The minister highlighted the growing anti-globalization sentiment in many societies and the upheaval in trade dynamics caused by tariff fluctuations. He discussed how a significant portion of global manufacturing has shifted to a single region, altering supply chain dynamics, and pointed out the significant changes in the global energy landscape, with the US emerging as a major fossil fuel exporter and China as a key renewable energy player.
Moreover, Jaishankar acknowledged the rising influence of Big Tech, the emergence of new connectivity forms, and the competition for rare earths and critical minerals contributing to global tensions. He emphasized the evolution of weaponry and warfare towards more standoff, impactful, and risk-prone scenarios.
Regarding foreign policy decision-making, Jaishankar affirmed that national interest takes precedence, even amidst pressure from other nations. He stressed India’s need to strategize and adapt to the volatile global environment by aligning policies with self-interest and resilience. He highlighted the importance of operating in a multi-polar world while aiming to become a dominant pole, emphasizing the effectiveness of a multi-alignment approach.
Jaishankar underscored India’s commitment to a “neighbourhood first” policy, stating that India should be the primary support option during crises in the subcontinent and promote cooperation infrastructure during political instabilities. He mentioned the challenge of dealing with various neighboring countries and the need to outshine them in terms of power and capability to achieve de-hyphenation.
In conclusion, Jaishankar projected India’s growth driven by demand, demographics, and data, urging the generation of ideas and narratives to propel India towards 2047. He called upon JNU’s School of International Studies to play a key role in elevating India to a leading power status, citing its historical contribution to international relations studies in India.