‘Multilateralism under attack, reform much needed’: Jaishankar after Trump bashes UN

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday (local time) called for stronger cooperation among developing nations and reforms in global institutions. His remarks came while addressing the High-Level Meeting of Like-Minded Global South Countries in New York, on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly.

“We meet in increasingly uncertain times when the state of the world is a cause for mounting concern for member states. The Global South in particular is confronted with a set of challenges which have heightened in the first half of this decade,” Jaishankar said at the meeting, held on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80).

#WATCH | At the High-Level Meeting of Like-Minded #GlobalSouth Countries in New York, EAM @DrSJaishankar says, "In the face of such proliferation of concerns and multiplicity of risks, it is natural that the Global South would turn to multilateralism for solutions. Unfortunately,… pic.twitter.com/ZhLkDC4rae

— DD India (@DDIndialive) September 24, 2025

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He listed the main challenges as “the shocks of the Covid pandemic, two major conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, extreme climate events, volatility in trade, uncertainty in investment flows and interest rates and the catastrophic slowing down of the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) agenda.”

Delighted to host the High-Level Meeting of Like Minded Global South Countries in New York today on the sidelines of #UNGA80.

In face of proliferation of concerns and multiplicity of risks, it is natural that the Global South turn to multilateralism for solutions.

Made the… pic.twitter.com/Be4D7ApD4l

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 23, 2025

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He added, “The rights and expectations of developing countries in the international system which has been so assiduously developed over many, many decades, are today under challenge.”

Jaishankar stressed that “in face of such proliferation of concerns and multiplicity of risks, it is natural that the Global South would turn to multilateralism for solutions.” But he also underlined weaknesses in existing institutions, saying, “Unfortunately, there too we are presented with a very disappointing prospect.”