World entering unpredictable transition phase: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday offered a stark assessment of the shifting global landscape, warning that the world is entering a “messy” and “unpredictable” transitional phase. Addressing the inaugural session of the FECC three-day Global Economic Cooperation Summit in Mumbai, Jaishankar said the existing global order is undergoing a fundamental transformation. “The established global order is clearly changing before our very eyes. Replacements are hard to create, and we appear to be headed for a long twilight zone. This will be messy, risky, unpredictable, perhaps even dangerous,” he said.
Highlighting the friction between old and emerging systems, the External Affairs Minister noted that these shifts are already visible across regions and sectors. He said aspects of the current global order will coexist with elements of the new one, adding that economics would increasingly give way to politics and security in decision-making, while technology—especially in the age of artificial intelligence—would become even more transformative.
Turning to India’s domestic and international response to this volatility, Jaishankar said the country is focused on strengthening its internal foundations while expanding its global engagement. “India’s response is to further build national capabilities, address growth challenges comprehensively, and deal with both short-term issues and long-term prospects. The Reform Express will continue to roll on,” he said.
He added that this sustained momentum has implications on both the supply and demand sides, noting that India is now leveraging domestic stability to engage more actively with the world. “From a position of strength, India is engaging international partners more intensively. This is demonstrated in recently concluded trade deals. We will also be more salient in the global calculus on production, services, technology, skills, and talent,” Jaishankar said. The External Affairs Minister participated in the summit alongside Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis