External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has highlighted the rising challenges in global diplomacy due to a decline in adherence to international rules, which is creating new choke points in strategic areas such as waterways, financial systems, and market access. Speaking at an Asia Society event in New York, Jaishankar emphasized that nations are increasingly leveraging their geopolitical and economic influence against competitors in a more contested international landscape.
Jaishankar pointed out specific geographical choke points like the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for global oil transportation, as well as financial barriers imposed through sanctions. He also noted that travel and market-access restrictions are being used as strategic tools by influential countries.
The minister further elaborated on the intricate balance between competition and interdependence in international relations. While countries are in stiff competition over strategic and economic interests, their economies and supply chains remain deeply intertwined. This duality, according to Jaishankar, poses significant challenges for diplomacy, as governments must navigate the tension between competitive objectives and the constraints of global interdependence.
Jaishankar’s remarks underscore the increasing complexity of international diplomacy, where countries must manage strategic rivalries alongside maintaining economic and political ties. This evolving dynamic, he suggested, makes it imperative for nations to carefully balance their competitive strategies with the practical realities of interconnected global systems.