India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar delivered a keynote address at the 21st Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity on Thursday [2, 3].
The speech comes as global political and economic fragmentation threatens international stability. By proposing a framework for renewed cooperation, Jaishankar aimed to steer nations away from a "zero-sum" worldview where established powers lose their competitive edge.
Jaishankar's appearance on Jeju Island was the culmination of a four-day official visit to Mongolia and South Korea that began June 22 [1]. During the forum, he outlined five specific steps intended to reinvent international cooperation to better suit the current global climate [2].
He highlighted the strategic importance of the relationship between India and South Korea, noting that the two nations possess significant complementarities in various sectors [5]. These ties, ranging from shipbuilding to semiconductor chips, serve as a model for the broader cooperation he advocated for during the summit [5].
Addressing the assembly, Jaishankar warned against the dangers of a world divided by rigid blocs. He said that the current trend of fragmentation risks destabilizing the global order and hindering collective progress.
Throughout the 21st edition of the forum [3], the Indian minister emphasized that the world must move beyond outdated competitive models. He said that the goal of his proposed steps is to ensure that international relations are based on mutual benefit, rather than the loss of one party for the gain of another.
The visit concluded June 25, marking a strategic effort by India to strengthen its diplomatic and economic footprint in East Asia [1, 3].
“India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar delivered a keynote address at the 21st Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity”
Jaishankar's focus on 'complementarities' and a non-zero-sum approach reflects India's strategic autonomy. By positioning India as a bridge-builder between established powers and emerging economies, New Delhi is attempting to secure critical technology transfers—specifically in semiconductors—while avoiding entanglement in the rigid bloc politics characterizing current US-China tensions.
