India has “strongly navigated” the ongoing turbulent geopolitical situation amid the conflict in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday, adding that the country is “successfully managing internal and external challenges.”
“Speaking at the 15th annual convocation ceremony of IIM Raipur, he said countries today must focus on “hedging, de-risking and diversification” as the global order changes rapidly.
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‘We have succeeded strongly’: Jaishankar notes global risks, says India has emerged resilient amid crisis
He said that the world is going through a “structural” transformation, adding that “the global system is changing before our eyes with clear shifts in the relative power and influence of countries. The policies of some societies find it difficult to come to terms with these changes.”Jaishankar also said, “New developments in technology, energy, military capabilities, connectivity and resources have encouraged risk-taking in an increasingly competitive environment. Everything today is being leveraged, if not actually weaponized. The world is then faced with the prospect of securing itself in an increasingly volatile and unpredictable environment. This has necessitated the need for hedging, de-risking and diversification.”
“He said India had reasons to be optimistic compared to many other countries. “There is an optimism in our society that is lacking in many other parts of the world,” he said, adding that India is now among the top five economies and has handled the recent global shocks well.He added: “No one can dispute that the recent multiple global shocks have tested our resilience, and India has overcome this with strength.
“We have been able to manage internal and external challenges fairly successfully.”The minister said that national capacity building is key to achieving India’s goal of Vixit Bharat 2047. He also lauded “inclusive growth, representative politics and decisive leadership”.He said: “Building national capabilities has become more important in light of the global trends I mentioned. We must strive to build and secure the largest possible number of capabilities within the limits of our control.”On foreign policy, Jaishankar said India is focusing on expanding market access, securing resources and technology, and supporting Indians abroad, while promoting “Brand India”.“Our foreign policy today is focused on expanding market access for Indian producers. It is also focused on helping secure resources, technology and essential goods. It takes care of Indians… and promotes the Indian brand,” he said.These statements come at a time when tensions in the Middle East that began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran have extended beyond one month. The crisis has worsened since then with Iran taking control of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, sending ripples to oil baskets around the world.
