External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York to discuss major global conflicts and India-UN cooperation…reports Asian Lite News Desk
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on Monday, with the two leaders discussing key international developments, including the conflicts in West Asia, Ukraine and Sudan, as India formally launched its campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-2029 term.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the launch of India’s UNSC campaign at the UN Headquarters, marking the start of New Delhi’s diplomatic outreach to secure support from UN member states ahead of next year’s election for the Asia-Pacific seat.
Sharing details of the meeting on X, Jaishankar wrote, “Glad to meet @antonioguterres, Secretary General of the @UN in New York today. Discussed global developments, including of West Asia, Ukraine and Sudan. Also recognised the strength of India-UN cooperation.”
The discussions focused on major international crises and the continued partnership between India and the United Nations across a range of global issues.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar formally launched India’s candidature for the Security Council, unveiling a six-point vision built around the acronym SHANTI, which stands for Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity.
Addressing diplomats and delegates from across the world, he said India would serve as the voice of the Global South on the Security Council and underlined the country’s longstanding contributions to international peacekeeping, support for developing nations and commitment to strengthening multilateral institutions.
The SHANTI framework outlines six priorities that India says will guide its approach if elected to the Council. These include amplifying the voice of the Global South in international peace and security, advancing a democratic, representative and effective multilateral system, building a future-ready UN peacekeeping architecture supported by modern technology, promoting a human-centric approach to artificial intelligence, supporting a free, open and rules-based maritime order in accordance with international law, and intensifying global efforts to combat terrorism and terror financing.
Jaishankar said India’s approach would be guided by dialogue, cooperation and efforts to bridge differences while advocating reforms that better reflect contemporary global realities.
He also reaffirmed India’s commitment to advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda and ensuring that UN peacekeeping operations remain focused on their core mandates.
India will contest next year’s election at the UN General Assembly for the Asia-Pacific non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the 2028-2029 term. If successful, it will be India’s ninth term as an elected member of the 15-member Council.
Alongside its campaign for the non-permanent seat, New Delhi continues to press its long-standing case for permanent membership of a reformed Security Council, arguing that the body’s composition should better reflect present-day geopolitical realities and give greater representation to developing countries.
India has maintained that securing another non-permanent term would enable it to continue contributing to discussions on global peace, security and multilateral cooperation while pursuing broader reforms of the UN system.
