New Delhi, March 18, 2025 – External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday underscored the necessity of a structured international order, drawing parallels between global governance and domestic rule of law. Speaking at the session "Thrones and Thorns: Defending the Integrity of Nations" at the Raisina Dialogue 2025, Jaishankar criticized the United Nations for equating aggressors with victims, particularly in the case of Pakistan’s occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir, which he described as "the longest-standing illegal occupation" since World War II.
Addressing concerns about geopolitical stability, Jaishankar emphasized that a lack of order would lead to an anarchic world. "An international order is as essential as a domestic order. Just as a nation needs a structured society, the world requires a structured framework to prevent disorder," he asserted. He cautioned that both large and small nations could exploit global disorder to their advantage, stating, “You don’t need to be a big country to be a risky country. We have seen smaller nations in our own neighborhood leveraging instability to their benefit."
Questioning the UN's Historical Role
Jaishankar raised concerns about Western nations' selective application of international norms, highlighting historical inconsistencies. Referring to the Kashmir issue, he criticized the United Kingdom, Canada, Belgium, Australia, and the United States for turning a clear invasion into a dispute at the UN. "The attacker and the victim were placed on equal footing, which raises serious concerns about the credibility of global governance structures," he remarked.
On the issue of Afghanistan, Jaishankar highlighted the West’s contradictory approach towards the Taliban. "The same Taliban that was once sidelined as an extremist force was later welcomed into the Doha process and Oslo talks. Today, when the Taliban exhibits regressive behavior, the narrative shifts once again," he pointed out, questioning the double standards in international diplomacy.
Addressing Political Interference and Sovereignty
Jaishankar further criticized the West’s approach to sovereignty and political interference, stating that military interventions in certain regions are justified under the guise of promoting democracy, while similar actions by non-Western nations are framed as malign interference. "When Western nations intervene, it is portrayed as preserving democratic freedoms. However, when other countries engage with the West, it is deemed as having ulterior motives," he observed.
A Call for Reform in Global Governance
Advocating for a stronger and fairer United Nations, Jaishankar stressed the need for consistent global standards. "A strong UN must also be a fair UN. Military coups in Myanmar are condemned, but similar actions in certain other regions are conveniently overlooked. It is imperative to audit the world order of the past eight decades and acknowledge that global power dynamics have evolved," he stated.
Jaishankar was joined in the discussion by Slovakia's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanar, former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, Liechtenstein’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education, and Sport Dominique Hasler, and Dubai Abulhoul, Founder of the Fiker Institute.
About the Raisina Dialogue
The Raisina Dialogue, India's premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, is being held in New Delhi from March 17-19, 2025. Hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, the conference aims to address the most pressing challenges facing the global community.
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