India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, addressing the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Saturday, September 27, 2025, asserted that the United Nations is currently “gridlocked” and in desperate need of comprehensive reforms. He also referenced previous discussions where IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) nations strongly condemned Israeli actions in Gaza.
In his powerful speech, Mr. Jaishankar didn’t shy away from criticizing Pakistan, labeling it as a hub for terror. He meticulously outlined numerous global challenges, from volatile tariffs to resource scarcity, and unequivocally stated India’s commitment to assuming greater responsibilities within the UN framework.
A video embed of EAM S. Jaishankar’s speech at the 80th UNGA session, where he articulated India’s guiding principles: “Bharat approaches the contemporary world, guided by three key concepts. One, Atmanirbharta or self-reliance…Two, Atmaraksha or securing oneself. We remain determined to protect our people and secure their…”
The Minister attributed the UN’s “gridlocked” state to ongoing conflicts, a severe lack of resources, and the persistent threat of terrorism. He warned that the organization’s dwindling capacity to build consensus was actively undermining global faith in multilateralism.
He further asserted that the core reason for the UN’s eroding credibility is the staunch resistance to necessary reforms. This aligns with his earlier statement on the sidelines of the UNGA, where he emphasized that BRICS nations must unite to defend the multilateral trading system against tariff volatility.
Mr. Jaishankar passionately advocated for rectifying historical injustices against Africa within the global body and called for a significant expansion of the United Nations Security Council, including both permanent and non-permanent seats. He confidently declared India’s readiness to embrace heightened responsibilities on the world stage.
He underscored India’s pivotal contributions to UN peacekeeping missions, its active involvement in combating piracy in the Arabian Sea, and its commitment to promoting digital transformation as fundamental pillars of India’s foreign policy. His address echoed sentiments from a previous statement where he urged the Global South to collaborate more closely.
The Minister provided a concise overview of the UN’s journey and the pressing contemporary challenges it faces. These include ongoing conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine, the sluggish pace of progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and significant hurdles in ensuring global energy and food security. He further identified unstable tariffs and unpredictable market access as critical issues impacting nations worldwide.
He emphasized that ‘de-risking’ has become an urgent necessity for nations, driven by concerns over limited supply sources and excessive reliance on single markets. This sentiment resonates with the experiences of many countries, including India, which have had to contend with tariffs imposed by previous U.S. administrations.
Without directly naming the country, Mr. Jaishankar strongly implied that India’s neighbor has transformed into “an epicentre of terrorism.” He pointed out that the United Nations’ official lists of designated terrorists frequently feature nationals from that particular country.
Recalling the Pahalgam terror attacks of April 22, Mr. Jaishankar affirmed India’s unwavering right to defend its citizens against such acts. He passionately urged for a concerted global effort to cut off funding for terrorism and to exert relentless pressure on the entire terror ecosystem.
Addressing the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, the Minister implored nations with the capacity to engage both warring parties to intensify their efforts in finding peaceful resolutions. He reiterated India’s steadfast call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and pledged support for any initiative aimed at restoring global peace.
The Minister concluded by articulating the three foundational concepts guiding India’s approach to the modern world: Atmanirbharata (self-reliance), atma raksha (self-defense), and atma vishwas (self-confidence). He declared that “Bharat will always maintain its freedom of choice and will always be a voice of the Global South,” a statement seemingly addressing any implicit pressure on India to align with specific international blocs in its foreign policy decisions.