India at UNGA 2025 : Terrorism, Global Role, and UNSC Reform

Speaking at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar strongly underlined India’s stance against terrorism, saying that India has a neighbor which remains an “epicenter of terrorism.” He reiterated India’s demand for accountability under international law while stressing the urgent need for comprehensive reforms at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Jaishankar also highlighted India’s global humanitarian contributions, citing its disaster relief efforts in Afghanistan and Myanmar, maritime security operations in the Arabian Sea, and its role in peacekeeping, healthcare, education, and digital transformation worldwide.

BRICS, IBSA, and CELAC Engagements in New York

On the sidelines of the UNGA, Jaishankar hosted and attended several important multilateral meetings. At the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, he stressed that in today’s turbulent world, BRICS must remain a “voice of reason and constructive change.” He emphasized the bloc’s role in countering protectionism, tariff volatility, and non-tariff barriers that disproportionately affect Global South economies. Under India’s upcoming 2026 Chairship, BRICS will prioritize food and energy security, climate change, digital transformation, startups, and sustainable development partnerships.

Jaishankar also attended the IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, where the grouping collectively renewed its call for transformative UNSC reforms, greater academic and maritime cooperation, and intra-IBSA trade expansion. He highlighted IBSA’s role in amplifying the voice of emerging democracies within multilateral institutions.

Strengthening India – CELAC Ties

In addition, Jaishankar co-chaired the India–CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting alongside Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio. Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture, trade, healthcare, digital transformation, humanitarian aid, and capacity building. They also identified emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, critical minerals, renewable energy, and space as future pillars of collaboration.

Importantly, India and CELAC underscored the urgent need to reform multilateral institutions to better represent the Global South. Jaishankar reaffirmed that India stands committed to championing inclusive global governance that reflects the aspirations of developing nations.

Key Bilateral Diplomacy

Beyond group forums, Jaishankar also held a series of bilateral meetings in New York. He engaged with counterparts including Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Antigua and Barbuda’s Foreign Minister Paul Chet Greene, Uruguay’s Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin, and Colombia’s Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio. These discussions covered a wide range of issues—spanning trade, technology, climate change, critical minerals, and defense cooperation.

Through these bilateral and multilateral interactions, Jaishankar positioned India as a bridge between developed and developing worlds, reinforcing its strategic partnerships while amplifying the Voice of the Global South. His engagements at UNGA 2025 highlight India’s growing diplomatic weight and its determination to push for reforms in global governance, stronger multilateral cooperation, and a united stand against terrorism.