Diplomacy must prevail over military solutions: Jaishankar at G20

India on Friday said military solutions will not work in tackling global challenges and diplomacy must be given a chance to address such issues. Addressing the first plenary session of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Atlanta, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also flagged the issue of attacks on seafarers and stressed the need to preserve freedom of navigation and ensure cessation of attacks within the framework of international law, especially UNCLOS. His comments came amid conflicts in several parts of the world, including the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions in West Asia.
Jaishankar said countries were being denied the right to industrialise through the flooding of markets, the use of supply chains as a weapon, restricted market access and market distortions. “This must cease,” he said. He also stressed the need to build resilient and alternative connectivity as countries reduce risks and diversify. On terrorism, Jaishankar said: “Tactical calculations should not lead to overlooking the dangers of terrorism. It is a high-risk activity which has come back to bite even the practitioners.”
Jaishankar said the Global South was bearing a disproportionate share of the consequences of attacks on civilian ships and seafarers, affecting the availability and cost of fuel, food and fertilisers. At least 22 Indians, including 14 seafarers, have died since the war began in West Asia in February this year.