RAIPUR, Apr 4: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday said that India has emerged resilient despite recent global shocks, pointing to ongoing conflicts in West Asia as a key test.
Speaking at the IIM Raipur convocation ceremony, Jaishankar noted that India has successfully managed both domestic and international challenges, underlining the impact of globalisation on even distant societies.
“No one can dispute that multiple global shocks have recently tested our resilience, and India has come through them solidly,” he said, referencing the West Asia crisis that began in February after US and Israeli attacks on Iran, which disrupted global fuel supplies and caused hydrocarbon shortages.
Jaishankar stressed the importance of building robust national capabilities as a means to de-risk and strengthen strategic leverage. He added that shifts in global power, technology, energy, military capabilities, connectivity, and resources have made the international environment increasingly competitive and unpredictable.
“The world today is leveraging every development—sometimes weaponising it—and this requires countries and businesses alike to hedge, de-risk, and diversify,” the minister said.
He identified the COVID-19 pandemic, international conflicts, and climate change as the three defining challenges of the decade. Highlighting India’s internal progress, Jaishankar credited inclusive growth, representative politics, and decisive leadership for creating a strong foundation for resilience.