India says distant nations bear the cost of global wars
Provpnmatrix.com – Countries far from conflict paying the price for wars they did not start was a central concern raised by India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at the United Nations General Assembly. Speaking during the high-level debate of the Assembly’s 81st session, he said violence is undermining security and slowing development across an interconnected world.
Conflicts can affect nations well beyond the areas where fighting occurs. Disrupted trade routes, volatile energy markets, food and fertilizer shortages, and tighter public finances can place heavy pressure on economies and households that have no direct role in a dispute.
“Not only weakening security, but is also threatening progress, slowing the pace of development in a globalized world.”
Conflict risks spread through trade and shipping
Jaishankar expressed particular concern about the conflict in the Gulf region and attacks on commercial ships and their crews in international waters. He said targeting civilian maritime activity is unacceptable, stressing that safe sea lanes are vital to international trade and energy supplies.
On the wider tensions affecting West Asia and the Middle East, he called for restraint, de-escalation and protection for civilians. He also said a durable peace requires a two-State solution, while uninterrupted movement of energy and trade remains essential for global stability.
The war in Ukraine, entering its fifth year, was also cited as a major concern. Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s position, Jaishankar said the international community should shift its attention from allowing a prolonged war to pursuing an end to it. India supports efforts intended to secure peace, he said.
“The focus must shift from ‘an endless war’ to ‘ending the war’.”
A global order facing new pressures
Countries far from conflict paying indirectly for instability reflects a wider problem in the international system, Jaishankar argued. He warned that threats, coercion and uncertainty are making the world less stable and predictable, despite eight decades of work by the United Nations.
He said finance, market access, supply chains and technology are increasingly being used as instruments of geopolitical competition. As a result, countries are seeking to reduce their exposure to risk and diversify economic relationships.
“We are witnessing circumstances in which everything is being weaponized.”
For the Global South, those pressures can be especially severe. Higher costs and reduced access to food, fuel, fertilizers and financing can delay infrastructure projects, limit public services and slow efforts to expand economic opportunity.
Jaishankar’s remarks linked peace with everyday economic progress. Reliable shipping, affordable energy, functioning supply chains and access to capital all depend on international stability. When these systems are disrupted, countries far from conflict paying the economic cost can face consequences they did not create and cannot control.
India calls for zero tolerance of terrorism
The Indian foreign minister also described terrorism as a continuing threat to global peace. He said state-sponsored cross-border terrorism challenges the international order and that governments involved should be held accountable.
Jaishankar rejected any weakening of the principle of zero tolerance for terrorism. Referring to comments made during the General Debate, he accused what he called “a serial practitioner of terrorism” of distorting facts and attempting to make terrorism seem normal or defensible.
“It is for the perpetrator of terrorism to mend its ways.”
Frequently asked questions
Why do wars affect countries outside the conflict zone?
Wars can disrupt shipping, supply chains, energy markets and the availability of food and fertilizers. These shocks may increase costs for governments, businesses and consumers in countries far from the fighting.
What did India say is needed to reduce these effects?
India called for restraint, de-escalation, protection of civilians, secure maritime trade and stronger efforts to end prolonged conflicts. It also stressed the importance of predictable international economic conditions for development.
Why are Global South countries especially vulnerable?
Many developing countries face sharper pressure when essential imports become more expensive or financing is harder to obtain. Such constraints can slow investment in public services, infrastructure and economic growth.
