Jaishankar Calls Out Global Double Standards, Stresses Dialogue Amid US-India Trade Tensions
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday highlighted what he described as a “double standard” in global policymaking, underscoring the close link between international peace and global development.
He noted that both have been deteriorating simultaneously, disproportionately affecting the Global South.
His remarks come amid mounting economic tensions between India and the United States. Washington has already imposed a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, with half of that explicitly framed as sanctions linked to India’s continued purchases of Russian oil.
In addition, the US has threatened further trade restrictions on Russia, citing Moscow’s ongoing military campaign in Ukraine.
These measures have raised concerns in New Delhi about the broader implications for energy security, trade stability, and economic growth.
Jaishankar emphasized that while peace is an essential enabler of development, threatening development through unilateral economic measures does not promote peace. He said:
“Peace can certainly enable development, but by threatening development, we cannot facilitate peace. Making energy and other essentials more uncertain in an economically fragile situation helps no one. Therefore, the way out is to move the needle towards dialogue and diplomacy, not in the opposite direction towards further complications.”
Global South Under Pressure
The Minister highlighted the heavy toll that rising costs of energy, food, and fertilizers have taken on nations in the Global South.
Ongoing conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and Gaza, have disrupted supply chains, inflated prices, and created pressures on vulnerable economies.
“The costs, especially to the Global South in terms of energy, food, and fertilizer security, were starkly demonstrated by ongoing conflicts,” Jaishankar said.
“Apart from jeopardizing supplies and logistics, access and costs themselves became pressure points on nations. Double standards are clearly in evidence.”
India, as one of the largest importers of energy, has been directly affected by these international dynamics. US sanctions on Russian oil and threats of trade restrictions have put India in a difficult position, trying to balance its energy needs with global diplomatic expectations.
US-India Trade Tensions and Russian Oil
The United States has expressed strong opposition to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, citing concerns that revenue from such transactions could finance Russia’s war in Ukraine.
However, analysts in New Delhi argue that India’s energy strategy is driven by domestic economic security and affordability, rather than geopolitical alignment.
Jaishankar’s comments implicitly criticized what India sees as a one-sided approach, where nations wield economic leverage while ignoring the impact on developing economies.
The External Affairs Minister stressed that global peace and development require equitable and consistent policies, rather than punitive measures that disproportionately affect countries in the Global South.
Double Standards in Conflict Response
Jaishankar highlighted the inconsistent approaches of some countries in handling conflicts. By making essentials like energy unpredictable, these policies do not aid peace but deepen divisions and economic stress:
“Peace can certainly enable development, but by threatening development, we cannot facilitate peace,” he reiterated.
He also stressed the importance of nations that can act as mediators in conflicts, urging the international community to leverage countries capable of engaging both sides to foster sustainable peace:
“In any conflict situation, there will be a few who can engage both sides. Such countries can be utilized by the international community, both to achieve peace and to maintain it thereafter,” Jaishankar said.
Moving Forward: Dialogue Over Coercion
India’s stance, as articulated by Jaishankar, is that diplomacy and dialogue must guide international policy, rather than unilateral sanctions or economic coercion.
By focusing on equitable solutions, the international community can ensure that development and peace reinforce each other, rather than being treated as mutually exclusive objectives.
India continues to call for a balanced approach, emphasizing that while geopolitical concerns are important, they should not come at the cost of pushing developing nations into economic or energy insecurity.
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