External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the UN headquarters in New York on September 29, with discussions focusing on ongoing conflicts, multilateralism and their impact on countries across the Global South. The meeting took place as Jaishankar concluded his engagements during the high-level week of the 81st UN General Assembly.
According to the UN Secretary-General’s office, the Jaishankar Guterres meeting covered multilateralism, India-UN cooperation and major geopolitical developments, including the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. Guterres also expressed appreciation for India’s cooperation with the United Nations.
West Asia and Ukraine Among Key Issues
Jaishankar said the discussions focused on ongoing conflicts and the need to mitigate their consequences, particularly for the Global South. Conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine have broader implications for countries dealing with energy, food, trade and economic pressures, making their impact a recurring concern in international diplomacy.
The meeting also comes against the backdrop of Guterres’ final high-level UNGA week as Secretary-General. His second five-year term is scheduled to end in December 2026. The UN has described the 2026 General Assembly as a period focused on strengthening international cooperation amid major global challenges.
Jaishankar’s Packed UNGA Engagements
During India’s national statement at the General Debate, Jaishankar acknowledged Guterres’ decade of service at the United Nations and highlighted his contributions to multilateralism and Mission LiFE.
Jaishankar also said he had met around 85 to 90 counterparts during what he described as a particularly busy week at the UN, reflecting India’s extensive diplomatic engagements during the General Assembly session.
The meeting follows Guterres’ recent visit to India for the BRICS Leaders’ Summit earlier in September. The UN chief has also repeatedly called for stronger international cooperation and reforms to global institutions as geopolitical tensions continue to shape international relations.
The Jaishankar Guterres meeting therefore brought together India’s diplomatic priorities and the UN’s wider focus on conflicts, multilateral cooperation and the concerns of developing countries.
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