Paris (Bureau): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday, March 27, 2026, intensified India’s diplomatic outreach at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Paris, holding high-stakes discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. Amid the intensifying West Asia crisis, Jaishankar’s engagements focused on stabilizing global energy flows and securing vital trade corridors. Describing his talks with Rubio as “useful” and his meeting with the Saudi counterpart as “pleasing,” the minister took stock of the evolving regional security situation while reinforcing bilateral cooperation with key strategic partners.
Addressing two pivotal sessions at the G7 forum, Jaishankar underscored the “critical importance of freedom of navigation” as a cornerstone of global economic security. With the Strait of Hormuz facing ongoing disruptions, he advocated for more resilient trade architectures, specifically pointing to the strategic relevance of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). He cautioned that the current regional instability necessitates a shift toward diversified and secure supply chains to protect international markets from sudden energy shocks.
Beyond immediate conflict management, Jaishankar made a strong case for long-term structural changes in global governance. He pushed for the urgent reform of the UN Security Council and the streamlining of international peacekeeping operations. During a session on connectivity, he also flagged emerging cross-cutting threats, such as narco-terror linkages, and called for deeper international cooperation on critical minerals supply chains. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that Jaishankar’s marathon diplomacy in Paris included further talks with counterparts from France, Germany, South Korea, Japan, and Brazil, solidifying India’s role as a bridge between the G7 and the Global South.
