{"id":125776,"date":"2026-09-23T11:34:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T06:04:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=125776"},"modified":"2026-09-23T11:34:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T06:04:13","slug":"81st-unga-reforming-multilateralism-amid-global-geopolitical-stress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/81st-unga-reforming-multilateralism-amid-global-geopolitical-stress\/","title":{"rendered":"81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) &#8211; Reforming Multilateralism Amid Global Geopolitical Stress"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called for stronger and reformed multilateralism amid growing geopolitical competition, conflicts and pressures on international cooperation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He made the remarks while co-chairing the inaugural Partners for Multilateralism, International Law, Peace &amp; Prosperity (<\/span><b>P4M<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) <\/span><b>Summit <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with European Council President Antonio Costa on the sidelines of the 81st <\/span><b>UNGA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in New York.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The summit comes at a time when the global order is experiencing <\/span><b>strategic rebalancing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, geopolitical tensions and conflicts, while the UN system faces criticism over limited representation and decision-making effectiveness.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Global Order Under Stress<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jaishankar argued that the long-term rebalancing of global power has acquired a more difficult character because of <\/span><b>intense strategic competition.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If these pressures remain unchecked, they could weaken the spirit of international cooperation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therefore, multilateralism needs to assert itself more strongly to address common global challenges.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He stressed that cooperation is essential in areas such as &#8211;<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Peace and international security<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Climate action and<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/climate-equity\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b> climate justice<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emerging technologies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development finance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Counter-terrorism<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Global supply chains<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disaster resilience<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pandemic preparedness<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>The 4F Crisis<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A major concern highlighted by Jaishankar was the vulnerability of global systems to disruptions in essential supplies.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He referred to the \u201c4F crisis\u201d \u2014 <\/span><b>fuel, food, fertiliser and finance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He called for &#8211;<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Frameworks and guardrails<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for emerging technologies and capabilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>De-risking and diversification<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> where countries face dependence on strategic chokepoints.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">International cooperation to prevent disruptions in critical supply chains.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Greater resilience against geopolitical shocks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This approach is particularly significant for countries such as India, which seek to maintain <\/span><b>strategic autonomy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> while reducing excessive dependence on any single country or supply source.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The emphasis on diversification is consistent with India\u2019s broader approach of building <\/span><b>resilient supply chains<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and maintaining multiple strategic partnerships rather than relying excessively on any single geopolitical bloc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Reformed Multilateralism<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India advocated \u201creformed multilateralism\u201d based on &#8211;<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More participative deliberations<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><b>Transparent decision-making<\/b><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Greater representation of contemporary global realities<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Respect for international law, rules and norms<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India argues that institutions created in an earlier geopolitical era need to become more representative of the present distribution of economic and political power.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is particularly relevant to UN Security Council (<\/span><b>UNSC<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) <\/span><b>reform<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where India has been seeking permanent membership.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>India and Visegrad Group<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Slovakia backed <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s bid for permanent membership of the UNSC, describing India as an important country of the Global South and an emerging power in the Indo-Pacific.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jaishankar also participated in the <\/span><b>first <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">V4+India Foreign Ministers\u2019 Meeting.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Visegr\u00e1d Group (V4) consists of Czechia (Czech Republic), Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in political and diplomatic affairs, economy and trade, defence and security, technology, space, connectivity, and people-to-people (<\/span><b>P2P<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) relations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The new V4+India format expands India\u2019s engagement with Central Europe and provides another platform for cooperation beyond traditional bilateral relationships.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Bilateral and Regional Engagements<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During his UNGA visit, Jaishankar held meetings with foreign ministers of France, Ukraine, Hungary and Moldova.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With <\/span><b>France<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, discussions covered the Ukraine and Gulf crises, bilateral strategic cooperation and reform of the UN Security Council.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With <\/span><b>Ukraine<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, discussions included peace efforts, bilateral cooperation and the Black Sea, including the importance of freedom of navigation for global food security.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These engagements demonstrate India\u2019s effort to maintain dialogue with multiple stakeholders while pursuing its independent foreign-policy interests.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Significance for India<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strategic autonomy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Maintaining independent decision-making amid competing geopolitical blocs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Global South leadership<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Advocating greater representation and voice for developing countries.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Multilateral reform<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Seeking institutions that are more representative, participatory and transparent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Supply-chain resilience<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Reducing vulnerability arising from excessive dependence and geopolitical chokepoints.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rules-based international order<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Supporting international law, norms and peaceful resolution of disputes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Way Forward<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A more effective multilateral system requires <\/span><b>representative institutions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, transparent decision-making, respect for international law and greater cooperation on transnational challenges.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s advocacy of reformed multilateralism seeks to move global governance <\/span><b>beyond bloc politics<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> towards a system capable of addressing emerging challenges such as &#8211;<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Climate change,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technological disruption,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pandemics,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Terrorism,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Food and energy insecurity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Source: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/articleshowprint\/134400877.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><b>ToI<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0| <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/jaishankar-united-nations-fuel-food-guardrails-global-order-10888684\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><b>IE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India called for stronger and reformed multilateralism amid growing geopolitical competition on the sidelines of the 81st UNGA in New York.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":125806,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[10434],"class_list":["post-125776","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","tag-81st-united-nations-general-assembly","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125776","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=125776"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125776\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":125797,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125776\/revisions\/125797"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/125806"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=125776"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=125776"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=125776"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}