Colombo, April 1 – Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday that the global order is undergoing significant changes, with every region needing to look out for its own interests, particularly in areas like food, fuel, fertilizers, vaccines, and disaster response.
Speaking at the 20th BIMSTEC Ministerial in Colombo, Jaishankar emphasized the increasing importance of shorter supply chains and proximity to immediate neighbors. He described the current global situation as one where self-reliance is becoming more vital, with nations needing to depend on themselves for security and prosperity.
“We are seeing that unfold before our very eyes. Times have indeed changed. Shorter supply chains and immediate neighbors have a salience much more than before,” Jaishankar told the gathering of leaders from the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
Jaishankar described the BIMSTEC Summit as taking place in “very uncertain and volatile times” and pointed out that the global order itself is in a state of “visible churn.” He urged the member nations to approach the grouping from a more ambitious perspective, highlighting that the new international order would likely be more regional and agenda-specific.
“The era when a few powers underwrote the international system is now behind us. What we make of our prospects is very much dependent on ourselves. As developing nations who face a multitude of challenges, that is better done in concert with each other than individually,” he said.
At the summit, Jaishankar also noted that India’s northeastern region is becoming a connectivity hub for BIMSTEC, with infrastructure projects like the Trilateral Highway linking India’s northeast to the Pacific Ocean. He called it a “game-changer” for regional connectivity.
India’s vision for BIMSTEC, Jaishankar explained, is a strategic blend of three key initiatives: India’s Act East Policy, its Neighbourhood First approach, and the MAHA-SAGAR outlook, a policy focused on regional security and growth across the Indian Ocean and the wider Indo-Pacific.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is set to join other leaders at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, will oversee the signing of the Agreement on Maritime Cooperation. Jaishankar noted that India’s initiatives, including the MAHA-SAGAR vision, reflect India’s growing commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.
Jaishankar’s remarks also referenced India’s growing engagement with the Global South, particularly in light of China’s expanding influence in the Indian Ocean. The MAHA-SAGAR vision builds on India’s earlier SAGAR initiative, which was first announced in 2015 to foster regional security and growth.
The Foreign Minister stressed the importance of addressing shared concerns and enhancing cooperation among BIMSTEC nations, particularly in connectivity, trade, investment, and services, areas where the region is not yet realizing its full potential.
