EAM Jaishankar Holds Talks with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in New York on Monday (local time), where the two leaders exchanged views on key international developments and reaffirmed the strong partnership between India and the UN. Sharing details of the meeting on X, Jaishankar said they discussed major global issues, including the situations in West Asia, Ukraine, and Sudan, while acknowledging the growing strength of India-UN cooperation.

The meeting took place as India formally launched its campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028–29 term. Speaking at the campaign launch at the UN Headquarters, Jaishankar outlined India's priorities, longstanding commitment to multilateralism, and its significant contribution to international peacekeeping.

He said India's bid comes at a time when the world is witnessing increasing geopolitical tensions and instability, making the role of the United Nations and the Security Council more important than ever. According to Jaishankar, member states will assess not only India's vision for tackling global challenges but also its consistent record of supporting international peace and security.

During his address, the External Affairs Minister introduced 'SHANTI'—short for Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity—as India's guiding framework for promoting a peaceful, secure and inclusive global order. He stressed that sustainable peace and prosperity can only be achieved through respect for international rules, mutual trust and strong global institutions.

Highlighting India's contribution to UN peacekeeping operations, Jaishankar noted that the country has deployed nearly 300,000 personnel across around 50 UN peacekeeping missions since the UN was established. At present, India has about 4,300 peacekeepers serving in 10 of the 11 active UN missions. He reaffirmed India's commitment to strengthening UN peacekeeping by advocating better-equipped missions, greater use of technology and realistic mandates, while continuing to support the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

Jaishankar also underlined India's role as a trusted development partner, pointing out that Indian-backed development projects are currently being implemented in 79 countries. He said India has consistently promoted dialogue and diplomacy during international crises and has worked to ensure that the concerns of the Global South remain central to global discussions.

Expressing confidence in India's UNSC campaign, Jaishankar said India's presence on the Security Council would contribute to more inclusive decision-making and help build consensus on critical global issues. He appealed to UN member states to support India's candidature. If elected, India will serve as one of the Council's 10 non-permanent members for a two-year term alongside the five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Election to the Security Council requires the backing of a two-thirds majority in the 193-member UN General Assembly.

India has previously served on the Security Council eight times, most recently during 2021–22, and has consistently advocated reforms to make the Council more representative of today's global realities. Following his engagements in New York, Jaishankar is scheduled to travel to Brussels to attend the third India–European Union Trade and Technology Council meeting, where he will also hold discussions with senior EU and Belgian leaders on July 14 and 15.