External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has called for a stronger and more clearly articulated global role for India, highlighting the country’s expanding responsibilities, strategic interests and growing expectations from the international community.
Addressing the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in New Delhi, Jaishankar underlined the need for India to develop a deeper understanding of its choices in an increasingly complicated global environment. Vice President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan also attended the programme and addressed the distinguished gathering.
Jaishankar’s remarks focused on five broad priorities for India’s evolving foreign policy approach: strengthening the country’s global voice, amplifying the interests of the Global South, developing an India-centric strategic vocabulary, navigating geopolitical competition, and securing economic and energy interests while protecting Indian communities overseas.
India’s Global Role Is Changing Rapidly
Jaishankar said the transformation taking place across the international system is also reshaping India. As the country’s economic, technological and strategic capabilities grow, its engagement with the world is becoming broader and more consequential.
India is now dealing with a wider range of international interests and responsibilities. This expanding role, according to the External Affairs Minister, also brings greater expectations from India as a major partner and voice in global affairs.
The changing environment makes it important for India to assess its national priorities carefully while remaining responsive to developments across different regions and strategic domains.
Strengthening the Voice of the Global South
A key element of India’s international engagement has been its effort to ensure that the concerns of developing countries receive greater attention.
Jaishankar highlighted India’s continuing efforts to strengthen the voice of the Global South. The approach reflects New Delhi’s emphasis on giving developing and emerging economies a greater role in conversations concerning global governance, economic development and international cooperation.
India’s experience in dealing with development challenges, technology, energy and economic growth provides an important foundation for this engagement. The country’s growing international partnerships have also created opportunities to bring the priorities of developing nations into wider global discussions.
Building India’s Own Strategic Perspective
Jaishankar stressed the importance of articulating India’s own learnings, experiences, interests and concepts in global debates.
For a country with an expanding international footprint, he suggested that strategic discussions cannot depend solely on frameworks or terminology developed elsewhere. India needs to communicate its perspectives in ways that accurately reflect its own experiences and national interests.
This requires stronger intellectual engagement, deeper research and sustained policy discussions. Institutions such as ICWA can play an important role in developing these conversations and contributing to a more confident articulation of India’s worldview.
Navigating Conflicts, Weaponisation and Competition
The External Affairs Minister also pointed to the growing complexity of the international environment. Conflicts, weaponisation and intensified competition are influencing relationships between major powers and creating new strategic uncertainties.
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In such circumstances, India needs to develop a clearer understanding of the choices available to it. Strategic decision-making requires an assessment of risks, opportunities and long-term national interests rather than relying on conventional assumptions.
Jaishankar’s emphasis on deeper understanding reflects the need for India to remain flexible while protecting its strategic autonomy in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
Energy Security, Markets and Indian Communities Abroad
Economic and energy security formed another important part of Jaishankar’s message. He highlighted India’s efforts to diversify its energy sources and expand access to new international markets.
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Increasing exports is also becoming an important component of India’s broader economic strategy. Greater market access can support domestic economic growth while helping Indian businesses strengthen their global presence.
At the same time, Jaishankar underlined the importance of safeguarding Indian communities living abroad. With millions of Indians and people of Indian origin residing across the world, protecting their interests remains an important dimension of India’s external engagement.
ICWA’s Role in Shaping India’s Global Strategy
Jaishankar expressed confidence that ICWA would continue to serve as an important platform for discussion, debate and dialogue on international affairs.
The Silver Jubilee celebrations marked an opportunity to reflect on the institution’s role in encouraging informed conversations about India’s place in the world. As global power equations evolve, research institutions and policy forums can help bring together diplomats, scholars, experts and policymakers to examine emerging challenges.
Jaishankar said such engagement would be valuable in developing a strategy that is both optimised for India’s interests and tailored to the requirements of a changing global environment.
A Strategic Roadmap for Viksit Bharat
The External Affairs Minister’s message ultimately connected India’s expanding international role with the broader objective of building Viksit Bharat.
A stronger global voice, greater engagement with the Global South, independent strategic thinking, diversified energy and markets, rising exports and protection of Indians abroad together form important elements of India’s evolving foreign-policy priorities.
As the global order undergoes significant transformation, Jaishankar’s five-point approach highlights the importance of strategic clarity and institutional debate. ICWA, he indicated, can continue to provide a valuable platform for developing ideas and perspectives that help India respond effectively to an increasingly competitive and complex world.
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