International Relations Face Extreme Risks, Says Indian FM Jaishankar

New York – On September 29, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar warned that the use of dependency as a weapon – through wars, sanctions and trade barriers – has transformed global affairs. He said diplomats are now confronting far more hazardous circumstances than in the past.

The minister cited two major conflict zones: the volatility across West Asia and the fighting in several African territories, adding that developing economies are feeling the squeeze on food, energy, fertilizer and financial flows. Global supply chains, he noted, are becoming progressively fragile.

Jaishankar labelled the tension between intensifying competition and deep‑seated inter‑dependence as "the paradox of our time." While nations remain interconnected, they are increasingly prepared to manipulate those links to exert pressure.

"Inter‑dependence is a fact; competition is a mindset," he asserted, emphasizing the difficulty of balancing the two. When a country depends on another for a critical need, the opposing side may seek to turn that reliance into leverage, complicating policy formulation.

He characterized modern diplomacy as an "extreme sport," where officials must manage high‑stakes decisions, endure long‑standing disputes and maintain composure. Jaishankar listed a series of "chokepoints" – strategic routes, sanctions, travel bans and market access – that states now target to impose pressure.

Countries possessing influence over any of these points appear more willing to deploy them against rivals. Energy shocks raise prices and force strategic recalibrations, while advancements in defence technology boost the confidence of governments to assume greater risks.

The minister observed that the world has grown more impatient. In the past, power equilibrium was the primary tool to deter action; today, once new capabilities are achieved, there is a "use it or lose it" mentality.

Jaishankar questioned whether institutions designed in the post‑World War II era, such as the United Nations, can adapt to the new environment. He noted that the UN began with 51 members in a vastly different world.

He concluded that despite rising competition, countries must still build stable and reliable frameworks. India continues to push for reforms that give developing nations a stronger voice in multilateral bodies and remains active in platforms like the G20, BRICS and the Quad.