S. Jaishankar Leads India's Diplomatic Push at 81st UN General Assembly

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar conducted a series of high-level diplomatic engagements during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 25 and 26, 2026. In a formal address to the assembly, Jaishankar called for restraint and the protection of civilians, arguing that nations far from active war zones are being penalized by the global fallout of conflicts in the Gulf and West Asia. He specifically condemned the targeting of commercial shipping in international waterways as "simply unacceptable" and advocated for a two-state solution in the Middle East.

These efforts occurred as India navigated new geopolitical pressures following U.S. President Donald Trump's signing of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The act expands sanctions on Russia and Iran and allows for tariffs on trading partners in the oil and gas sector. In response, the Government of India asserted its commitment to energy security for its 1.4 billion people through diversified sourcing. Jaishankar met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss bilateral ties, the Gulf conflict, and BRICS cooperation.

Beyond conflict resolution, Jaishankar co-chaired the India-Gulf Cooperation Council Troika Ministerial Meeting, which launched Free Trade Agreement negotiations and reviewed a Joint Action Plan for 2024-28. He also co-chaired an event with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis on the security implications of AI in the maritime domain and signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime. Regarding global governance, Jaishankar characterized BRICS as a supportive grouping for the United Nations rather than an alternative, emphasizing that the UN remains central to the international system.