New Delhi, April 4 – India has demonstrated resilience in navigating recent global shocks, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Saturday, referring to the ongoing conflict in West Asia and its wider economic repercussions.
In his address at the convocation ceremony of IIM Raipur, EAM Jaishankar stated that India has successfully addressed both domestic and external challenges despite the increasingly turbulent global environment.
He emphasized that the ripple effects of conflicts are now felt far beyond their immediate geographies, reflecting the deep interdependence created by globalization.
“No one can dispute that multiple global shocks have recently tested our resilience, and that India has emerged from them strongly,” he said.
The minister also noted that the crisis in West Asia, triggered in February following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, has disrupted global fuel supply chains and led to hydrocarbon shortages.
Jaishankar also stated that building strong domestic capabilities remains the most effective way to mitigate risks and enhance strategic leverage.
He also pointed to a shifting global order, marked by changing balances of power and influence, and said the current turbulence is structural in nature.
Rapid developments in technology, energy, military capability, connectivity and resources have intensified competition among nations, according to him.
“Everything today is being leveraged, if not weaponized,” he said.
This has led to greater emphasis on hedging risks, diversification, and resilience, both in economic decisions and foreign policy, according to him.
EAM Jaishankar identified the Covid-19 pandemic, ongoing conflicts, and climate change as the defining challenges of the decade. He added that more inclusive growth, representative politics, and decisive leadership are helping to lay a stronger foundation to deal with these disruptions.
