The United Nations finds itself in a state of ‘gridlock’ and is desperately in need of fundamental reform, declared External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his address at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
During his impactful speech, Minister Jaishankar strongly condemned Pakistan, characterizing it as a hotbed of terrorism. He also shed light on the array of global challenges, including economic uncertainties from tariff fluctuations, and reiterated India’s steadfast commitment to assuming greater responsibilities within the UN framework.
The Minister asserted that ongoing conflicts, a scarcity of global resources, and the persistent threat of terrorism have rendered the UN ineffective and ‘gridlocked.’ He warned that the organization’s dwindling capacity to forge consensus is actively undermining faith in multilateralism worldwide.
‘At the heart of the UN’s eroding credibility is its resistance to much-needed reform,’ Mr. Jaishankar emphasized.
He passionately called for rectifying historical injustices faced by Africa within the global body and pressed for a significant expansion of both permanent and non-permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). India, he affirmed, stands ready and willing to undertake these expanded responsibilities.
Furthermore, the Minister underscored India’s substantial contributions to UN peacekeeping missions, its proactive efforts in combating piracy across the Arabian Sea, and its pioneering work in promoting digital inclusion as central pillars of its contemporary foreign policy.
Mr. Jaishankar offered a succinct overview of the UN’s trajectory, tracing its history to present-day complexities. These contemporary challenges include the devastating conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine, the sluggish pace of progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and critical issues concerning global energy and food security. He specifically highlighted rising tariff volatility and unpredictable market access as pressing economic concerns.
‘The imperative for ‘de-risking’ is growing stronger, whether it involves diversifying supply sources or reducing over-reliance on a single market,’ he noted, referencing the ongoing economic pressures many nations, including India, face, particularly from tariffs imposed by the U.S. administration under Donald Trump.
Without explicitly naming Pakistan, Mr. Jaishankar pointedly stated that India’s neighbor had regrettably transformed into ‘an epicentre of terrorism.’
He further elaborated, ‘The UN’s own designated lists of terrorists are filled with individuals who are its nationals.’
Recalling the Pahalgam terror attacks of April 22, Mr. Jaishankar affirmed India’s unwavering right to protect its citizens against such acts of terror. He urged the international community to collectively choke the financing of terrorism and exert ‘relentless pressure on the terror ecosystem.’
Addressing the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, the Minister appealed to all nations capable of engaging with both warring parties to intensify their efforts in seeking peaceful resolutions. ‘India advocates for an immediate cessation of hostilities and pledges its full support to any initiative that can help restore peace,’ he declared.
He concluded by outlining the three foundational concepts guiding India’s interaction with the modern world: Atmanirbharata (self-reliance), atma raksha (self-defence), and atma vishwas (self-confidence).
‘Bharat will always uphold its freedom of choice and consistently serve as a strong voice for the Global South,’ he asserted, subtly addressing external pressures for India to align with specific geopolitical blocs.