EAM S. Jaishankar meets with the Visegrád Group on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. Photo credit: @DrSJaishankar/X

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets China Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Manila on July 22, 2026. Photo: X/@DrSJaishankar via PTI.

India will work for a secure, peaceful and equitable world where the voice of the Global South is heard in equal measure, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Monday (July 13, 2026).

Mr. Jaishankar made these remarks as he launched India’s official campaign for a non-permanent seat at the UNSC for the 2028–29 term.

He outlined in detail India’s approach to the United Nations, emphasising that it is rooted in ‘Shanti: Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust, Integrity’ as he launched India’s campaign for the two-year tenure at an event in the UN headquarters attended by UN Ambassadors, diplomats and officials.

“India’s focus will be on working for a secure, peaceful, and equitable world-a world where the voice of the Global South is heard in equal measure. A world where peacekeeping is ready for contemporary and future challenges. A world where multilateralism reflects contemporary realities and provides effective solutions, not remaining a bystander,” he said.

“A world where the promise of technology is fully realised while safeguarding against its misuse and misapplication. A world as well whose oceans are safe and secure, so that maritime lifelines are not threatened,” Mr. Jaishankar added.

“A world where the scourge of terrorism is countered by choking the resources that feed it, and a world where climate action and climate justice, clean energy transitions, and sustainable growth hold value,” he said on Monday (July 13, 2026).

Mr. Jaishankar will also meet UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres later in the day. He had undertaken an official visit to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman from July 5-10 and arrived in New York over the weekend.

From New York, he will go to Brussels on July 14-15, where he will attend the 3rd India-EU Trade and Technology Council meeting and interact with his EU and Belgian counterparts.

Elections for the 2028-29 term will be held in June next year, when India and Tajikistan will compete for the sole seat in the Asia-Pacific Group.

The UNSC elections will come amid significant geopolitical shifts as the world continues to grapple with challenges such as the Ukraine war, the Gaza conflict and the U.S.-Israel war against Iran.

India last sat at the UN horseshoe table for the 2021-22 term, its eighth time in the UN Security Council after stints in 1950-1951, 1967-1968, 1972-1973, 1977-1978, 1984-1985, 1991-1992, 2011-2012.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the Parliament of Indonesia this week, had said that the global order is changing rapidly, and in this context, “developing countries like ours are seeking equal participation and a greater role in global affairs.” “In this evolving global landscape, India firmly believes that reforms in the United Nations Security Council can no longer be delayed.” India has been at the forefront of years-long efforts for achieving reform of the Security Council, including expansion in both its permanent and non-permanent categories, saying the 15-nation Council, founded in 1945, is not fit for purpose in the 21st Century and does not reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.

Delhi has consistently underscored that it rightly deserves a permanent seat at the horseshoe table.

India has called for an expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of UNSC membership, cautioning that reform of the UN Security Council will border on “failure” if only its non-permanent category is expanded, as this will not “fundamentally” change the decision-making power structure of the five permanent members.

With the UNSC reform process moving at a snail’s pace through the decades, India asserted that a “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed” approach must not become a tool to block progress.

“Status-quoists have tried to use this argument in their favour and thereby, entrench the existing inequities in the Security Council,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni had said last month.

Published – July 14, 2026 06:43 am IST

In this image posted on Sunday, May 10, 2026, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar interacts with the Indian diaspora of Trinidad and Tobago at a community event during the concluding leg of his three-nation Caribbean tour, after visiting Jamaica and Suriname, in Port of Spain.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, inaugurates the Brechin Castle agro-processing facility in South Trinidad, in the presence of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, on May 9. Photo: X/@DrSJaishankar via ANI

In this image posted on May 5, 2026, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Jamaica Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith with others during the signing of an agreement, in Kingston. Photo: @DrSJaishankar/X via PTI Photo

New Delhi:

India’s diplomacy stands out globally for its ability to balance ties between adversaries. The latest example of this is happening this week. As foreign minister S Jaishankar touches down in New Delhi after a five-day visit to the US for Donald Trump’s inauguration, foreign secretary Vikram Misri heads to China to foster ties with Beijing.

Just ten days ago, during a visit to Spain, foreign minister S Jaishankar had said India is one of the very few countries in the world that can engage both Russia and Ukraine, as well as Israel and Iran. “This is something very, very unique. And it is unique because if you look at the world today, it is a very polarised world,” he said.

Donald Trump has threatened to impose hefty tariffs on China and even the BRICS+ countries, which India is a member of as well. China, the world’s second-largest economy, has warned that it will retaliate, should Washington actually follow through. President Trump has also targeted China over its presence in the Panama Canal and said the US will take control of the waterway even if it means involving the military. China, on the other hand, has warned Washington over its involvement with Taiwan. Both nations have sanctioned each other.

ENGAGING ALL SIDES

Amid all this, India, which according to PM Modi, has “always chosen the side of peace”, aims to engage all sides for positive and constructive outcomes. Earlier this week, S Jaishankar strengthened India-US bilateral ties when he met the US Secretary of State and National Security Adviser for their first foreign engagements after the Trump administration took over. As PM Modi’s special envoy, Dr Jaishankar was also given the first seat at the US President’s inauguration.

As he returned after concluding “a very positive” visit to Washington, India’s foreign secretary heads to Beijing to build the momentum in India-China ties following a meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Russia late-last year. Foreign Secretary Misri’s visit was preceded by a visit by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval last month when he met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi.

REBUILDING AFTER THE STORM

India and China, two of Asia’s leading economies and the world’s most populous nations, are working to boost bilateral ties after a four-and-a-half-year-long military standoff along the Line of Actual Control or LAC brought ties to a grinding halt. After dozens of rounds of talks – both diplomatically and militarily – an agreement was reached and troops on both sides pulled back from the buffer zones, returning the status quo-ante. This happened within a week of PM Modi and Xi Jinping announcing it during a meeting in Russia late last year. Following this, Chinese and Indian foreign and defence ministers also met each other on multilateral occasions.

After Ajit Doval, foreign secretary Vikram Misri’s will be the second high-level visit by an Indian official to Beijing in a month.

A WELCOME FROM BEIJING

China has welcomed Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit this weekend and sounded positive about its outcome. “We welcome Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri’s travel to China for the meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister mechanism between China and India,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs also said that “Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will be visiting Beijing on January 26 and 27 for a meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister mechanism between India and China. The resumption of this bilateral mechanism flows from the agreement at the leadership level to discuss the next steps for India-China relations, including in the political, economic, and people-to-people domains.”

THE AGENDA

Besides bilateral issues such as boundary talks, maintaining peace along the LAC, the building of the world’s largest dam on the Brahmaputra, resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, people-to-people ties, resuming direct flights between the two countries, and facilitate the issuance of visas to Chinese citizens, the two sides are also likely to touch upon issues of mutual global interest.

“All matters of mutual interest will be discussed,” the foreign ministry said at a press briefing in New Delhi ahead of the foreign secretary’s visit.

The BRICS+, where both countries are threatened with massive tariffs, might figure in talks as well, as would the latest sanctions threat to countries dealing with Russia and buying Russian oil – again a common threat to both countries. Regional issues such as the situation in the Middle East and in Syria are likely to be discussed too.

US backing out of the Paris Climate agreement and the WHO, as well as the much-needed reform of the United Nations and the Security Council are likely to be discussed as well.

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Washington:

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, has clarified India’s stance, saying that New Delhi is open to the “legitimate return” of Indian nationals living ‘illegally’ abroad, including in the US.

“We have always taken the view that if there are any of our citizens, who are not here legally, if we are sure that they are our citizens, we have always been open to their legitimate return to India. So it’s not a position unique to the US,” EAM Jaishankar said at a press conference in Washington DC on Wednesday (local time).

He affirmed that India’s position on the issue has been “consistent” and “principled” and he did clearly convey this to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“I understand right now that there is a certain debate going on and a resulting sensitivity which is there. But we have been consistent, we have been very principled about it, and that remains our position, and I conveyed that very clearly to US State Secretary Marco Rubio,” he added.

EAM Jaishankar, however, also emphasised that India is very much supportive of ‘legal mobility’ between two countries and wants Indian skills and talent to have great opportunity at the global level.

He said that India is firmly opposed to illegal migration, adding it is not “reputationally good” and also leads to several illegal activities.

“As a government, we obviously are very much supportive of legal mobility because we do believe in a global workplace. We want Indian talent and Indian skills to have the maximum opportunity at a global level,” Mr Jaishankar said.

“At the same time, we are also very firmly opposed to illegal mobility and illegal migration. because you also know that when something illegal happens, many other illegal activities get joined into it… this is not desirable. It’s certainly not reputationally good… So we have with every country, and the US is no exception,” he added.

The Foreign Minister, during his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also pointed out the long waiting period for getting US visas, and said it is not serving the relationship well.

“I also told him (Rubio) that, while we understand all of this, and I also accept that these are autonomous processes, it is in our mutual interest to facilitate legal and mutually beneficial mobility. If it takes 400 odd days waiting period to get a visa, I don’t think the relationship is well served by this. So I think he also noted that point,” he also said.

EAM Jaishankar represented India at the US President Donald Trump’s inaugural function. He also carried a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for President Trump.

Donald Trump took oath as the 47th US President on January 20.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Washington:

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, has clarified India’s stance, saying that New Delhi is open to the “legitimate return” of Indian nationals living ‘illegally’ abroad, including in the US.

“We have always taken the view that if there are any of our citizens, who are not here legally, if we are sure that they are our citizens, we have always been open to their legitimate return to India. So it’s not a position unique to the US,” EAM Jaishankar said at a press conference in Washington DC on Wednesday (local time).

He affirmed that India’s position on the issue has been “consistent” and “principled” and he did clearly convey this to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“I understand right now that there is a certain debate going on and a resulting sensitivity which is there. But we have been consistent, we have been very principled about it, and that remains our position, and I conveyed that very clearly to US State Secretary Marco Rubio,” he added.

EAM Jaishankar, however, also emphasised that India is very much supportive of ‘legal mobility’ between two countries and wants Indian skills and talent to have great opportunity at the global level.

He said that India is firmly opposed to illegal migration, adding it is not “reputationally good” and also leads to several illegal activities.

“As a government, we obviously are very much supportive of legal mobility because we do believe in a global workplace. We want Indian talent and Indian skills to have the maximum opportunity at a global level,” Mr Jaishankar said.

“At the same time, we are also very firmly opposed to illegal mobility and illegal migration. because you also know that when something illegal happens, many other illegal activities get joined into it… this is not desirable. It’s certainly not reputationally good… So we have with every country, and the US is no exception,” he added.

The Foreign Minister, during his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also pointed out the long waiting period for getting US visas, and said it is not serving the relationship well.

“I also told him (Rubio) that, while we understand all of this, and I also accept that these are autonomous processes, it is in our mutual interest to facilitate legal and mutually beneficial mobility. If it takes 400 odd days waiting period to get a visa, I don’t think the relationship is well served by this. So I think he also noted that point,” he also said.

EAM Jaishankar represented India at the US President Donald Trump’s inaugural function. He also carried a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for President Trump.

Donald Trump took oath as the 47th US President on January 20.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Washington:

External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar addressed the status of India’s trade relations with Pakistan, clarifying that New Delhi didn’t cease trade, but rather, it was the Islamabad administration that decided to halt trading in 2019.

“We did not stop trading. Their administration made the decision in 2019 to not continue trading with us,” Mr Jaishankar said in a press conference in Washington DC on Wednesday (local time).

He also reiterated India’s longstanding concern regarding the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status, which India had extended to Pakistan but which Pakistan didn’t reciprocate.

“Our concern about this issue was from the beginning that we should get MFN status. We used to give this status to Pakistan but they did not give it to us,” the EAM said.

Noting that there have been no recent discussions or initiatives on trade from either side, he added, “So, neither such talks have taken place with Pakistan regarding trade from our side, nor did they take any initiative from their side.”

Higlighting India-US ties, Mr Jaishankar said both nations have a “very strong degree” of trust and convergence.

“We have a very strong degree of trust today between India and the United States, a very high level of convergence of our interests,” he said.

He also noted that the two nations share a sense of global good and are committed to serving their national interests while building their bilateral partnership.

“A sense that while we serve our national interest, while we build our bilateral partnership, definitely on regional issues and global issues, there is a lot of good that we can do. So that sense of global good was also very evident conceptually in what we discussed,”
“In terms of the bilateral ties, this was the first day of the administration, so we had sort of essentially a broad brush conversation, didn’t get too deep into details, but there was an agreement, a consensus between us that we need to be bolder, bigger and more ambitious,” he added.

Notably, Mr Jaishankar represented India at US President Donald Trump’s inaugural function. He also carried a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for President Trump.

Donald Trump took oath as the 47th US President on January 20.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)