Jaishankar pushes Global South needs at G7 meet in France
Jaishankar pushes Global South needs at G7 meet in France
Jaishankar highlights energy, fertiliser and food security while pushing for resilient trade corridors and IMEC at the G7 summit in France.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar used his remarks at the G7 gathering in France to press for global economic security through freedom of navigation and robust supply chains. He tied the Global South’s concerns over energy challenges, fertiliser supplies and food security to the bigger picture of resilient trade routes, especially as tensions in West Asia add uncertainty to global markets.
Jaishankar pointed to the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as a core piece of that resilience, noting that India’s free trade agreements with the European Union, the UK and the European Free Trade Association have increased IMEC’s utility. He praised broad support for this connectivity initiative and signaled continued collaboration with partners to strengthen corridors that reduce bottlenecks and safeguard energy and commodity flows.
During bilateral meetings with French officials and other foreign ministers, he stressed joint efforts to ensure secure routing through critical chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz. With BRICS holding the Indian presidency and France steering some G7 work, both sides underscored the importance of coordinated diplomacy in stabilising macroeconomic imbalances while maintaining open markets and transparent rules.
Jaishankar also suggested that discussions with partners such as the United States, Saudi Arabia and Canada touched on how to translate dialogue into concrete steps, albeit without disclosing specifics. Behind the veneer of multilateral chatter, the message was clear: freedom of navigation and resilient supply lines are indispensable to global economic security, now more than ever given the West Asia turmoil and the simmering energy and fertiliser challenges facing the Global South.
As meetings wrapped up, the emphasis remained on practical outcomes—accelerating IMEC, expanding FTAs where feasible, and deepening cooperation to protect trade corridors. For India, the dialogue reinforced its role as a bridge between energy-rich regions and the world, with France and other partners signaling continued attention to delivering tangible security and growth through better connectivity.
