Washington/Atlanta, Oct 2026 : India on Friday called for diplomacy to take precedence over military action in addressing global challenges, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasising that conflicts cannot be resolved through military solutions alone. Addressing the first plenary session of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Atlanta, he also raised concerns over attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers, stressing the need to protect freedom of navigation in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In a post on X after the session, Jaishankar said he had emphasised that military solutions would not work in the face of global challenges and that diplomacy must be given an opportunity. The meeting was hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and brought together foreign ministers from G20 member countries amid continuing geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.
Jaishankar’s remarks came against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions in West Asia, which have disrupted international trade, energy supplies and global supply chains.
The External Affairs Minister also highlighted concerns over restrictions on industrial development and distortions in global trade. He said the right to industrialise was being undermined through the flooding of markets, the weaponisation of supply chains, restricted market access and deliberate market distortions.
“This must cease,” he said, underlining the need for a fairer and more predictable international economic environment.
Jaishankar further stressed the importance of developing resilient and alternative connectivity networks as countries seek to reduce economic risks and diversify their trade and supply routes. Such arrangements, he said, would help countries withstand geopolitical disruptions and maintain access to essential goods and markets.
Jaishankar Flags Attacks on Seafarers
Maritime security and the safety of commercial shipping emerged as major concerns during the discussions. Jaishankar said attacks on civilian vessels and seafarers were disproportionately affecting countries of the Global South, threatening the availability and affordability of essential commodities such as fuel, food and fertilisers.
He called for freedom of navigation to be protected and attacks on shipping to cease within the framework of international law, particularly UNCLOS.
The minister also warned against overlooking the threat posed by terrorism while making tactical geopolitical calculations. “Tactical calculations should not lead to overlooking the dangers of terrorism. It is a high-risk activity which has come back to bite even the practitioners,” he said.
According to the figures cited in the report, at least 22 Indians, including 14 seafarers, have lost their lives since the conflict in West Asia began in February 2026. The impact of attacks on shipping has extended beyond the immediate conflict zone, raising concerns over maritime trade, energy security and the movement of essential supplies.
Rubio Warns of Global Economic and Geopolitical Crises
Opening the two-day G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Rubio described the current international situation as a critical moment of choice for the United States and the wider world.
He said countries were facing interconnected economic and geopolitical crises that threatened key foundations of the global economic order. These included disruptions to energy and food markets, supply chains, international trade and freedom of navigation.
Rubio urged G20 members to work together to address these challenges, strengthen economic resilience and safeguard markets and the economies dependent on them.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was also among the participants at the meeting. He was seated between his counterparts from Mexico and Saudi Arabia during the opening session.
After his address, Rubio said on X that maritime and food security were central to economic security. He added that the United States, through its America First agenda, was encouraging international partners to protect shipping routes, strengthen food security and limit the economic consequences of geopolitical crises.
The US Department of State had earlier said that the ministerial would focus on geopolitical developments contributing to global economic shocks, including threats to freedom of navigation, energy and food security, and supply chains.
US to Host G20 Leaders’ Summit in December
The Atlanta meeting comes amid differences among G20 members over several international conflicts and economic issues. The United States is scheduled to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Miami on December 14 and 15.
Jaishankar is also scheduled to participate in a Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the sidelines of the G20 gathering, alongside his counterparts from the United States, Japan and Australia. The meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss cooperation on Indo-Pacific security, maritime issues and economic resilience.
The Quad ministerial is expected to be the second such meeting this year, ahead of a likely leaders’ summit to be hosted by the United States in the Philippines next month.
Following his engagements in Atlanta, Jaishankar is scheduled to travel to Antigua and Barbuda to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, scheduled from November 1 to 4.
India’s interventions at the G20 meeting underline its emphasis on diplomatic engagement, maritime security, freedom of navigation and resilient global supply chains as countries seek responses to interconnected geopolitical and economic challenges.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
