India: The Geopolitics of Sovereign Choice

NDTV World Summit: S. Jaishankar on India’s Foreign Policy

At the NDTV World Summit, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar argued that India must make foreign-policy decisions in a world shaped by volatility, conflict and economic pressure, rather than rely on the predictability of an earlier era.

US Trade and Global Uncertainty

Jaishankar said India and the United States are moving toward a trade agreement, but negotiations can remain difficult until the final stages. He rejected the idea that India can assume agreements or policies will remain stable. Instead, he argued, countries must plan for shifting conditions, hedge risks and diversify their options.

Energy, Sanctions and “Choke Points”

Jaishankar said conflicts, sanctions and supply restrictions have made energy, finance and trade less predictable. In his view, using economic leverage, boycotts and supply restrictions as routine diplomatic tools distorts markets and imposes costs on people in many countries.

He pointed to the United States turning to Russian supply to protect its own consumers as an example of the pressures created by such policies.

Building India’s Capabilities

Jaishankar said diplomatic influence ultimately depends on national capability. He cited manufacturing, infrastructure, semiconductors and production-linked incentives as efforts to strengthen India’s economic and strategic position.

He argued that India lost ground during earlier decades and still has significant catching up to do. He also cautioned against claims that India should focus only on services rather than building industrial capacity.

Terrorism and Pakistan

Responding to questions about Washington’s approach to cross-border terrorism, Jaishankar said India cannot depend on another country to understand or address the threat for it. He described the evolution from the responses at Uri and Balakot to Operation Sindoor as evidence of India’s position that terrorism cannot be followed by business as usual.

He said India wants good relations with Pakistan but will not overlook terrorism to achieve them. He added that the national mood shifted after the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

International Influence Beyond Hard Power

In response to a question from Swami Sarvapriyananda about India’s cultural goodwill, Jaishankar cited the International Day of Yoga, the International Year of Millets, the International Solar Alliance, disaster-response cooperation and India’s COVID vaccine assistance.

He argued that contributing to global welfare can also serve India’s national interests.

War and Diplomacy

Jaishankar said the changing character of warfare—illustrated by the use of drones and developments in Ukraine and the Gulf—affects not only military planning but also countries’ willingness to take risks and their ability to respond. He described a tension between growing globalization and intensifying competition.

Ukraine

Jaishankar said India has consistently advocated dialogue and diplomacy. He outlined Indian discussions focused on protecting commercial shipping, grain exports and energy infrastructure, presenting these as practical steps that could support wider peace efforts.

He said the United States was well placed to pursue a definitive settlement because of its relationships with both Russia and Ukraine.

China and the Border

Jaishankar clarified that any eventual boundary settlement would have to address the entire India–China border, while concrete discussions could begin with specific sectors.

He said the 2020 Galwan clashes and other border incidents damaged the basis of the relationship, and that restoring peace and tranquillity along the border is necessary for broader normalisation.

International Cooperation

On whether initiatives should be formalised through institutions, Jaishankar said the approach should depend on the issue and the partners involved. Formal arrangements can help, but many countries now prefer flexible, outcome-focused groupings.

He cited BRICS as an example of a grouping without a secretariat or written charter.

Diplomacy on Screen

Asked about The Diplomat, Jaishankar called it “quintessentially American” and said television dramas necessarily heighten events; a realistic portrayal of routine diplomacy might put viewers to sleep. He added that watching shows about his profession makes it difficult to fully switch off.

Presenters and Contributors

• Rahul — Moderator and interviewer
• S. Jaishankar — India’s External Affairs Minister
• Swami Sarvapriyananda — Audience questioner
• General David Petraeus — Audience questioner; former CIA director
• Dr. Swarnim Wagle — Nepal’s Finance Minister and audience questioner
• Sucharita Kukreti — NDTV India lead anchor, asking the final question