NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Monday reiterated the need for a fair and multipolar global order, stating, “Our collective desire is to see a fair and representative global order, not one dominated by a few.” His remarks come amid global trade tensions, including US tariff threats and pressure on India’s oil trade with Russia.Speaking at the BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival in Delhi titled SaptaSur: Seven Nations, One Melody, Jaishankar linked cultural traditions to the broader vision of global balance. “We live in complicated and uncertain times. Our collective desire is to see a fair and representative global order, not one dominated by a few. That quest is often articulated as political or economic rebalancing,” he said.Jaishankar noted that cultural traditions play a role in strengthening identity and guiding national direction. “Traditions are of particular value because ultimately they define identity. We must be assured about what we are if we want to be confident about shaping the future. For nations like us, traditions are truly a great source of strength,” he added.Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier commitments, Jaishankar said, “I also want to underline what Director General of ICCR has said, that this was a commitment which was made by Prime Minister Modi at the BIMSTEC Summit and I am so glad that like so many of his commitments, that has been kept and kept early.”He also reflected on his personal journey and how cultural exposure shaped his outlook. “In my own case, it was actually through music and to some extent books that I developed an interest in the world. There is so much that music is able to convey that it is understandably regarded as the soul of a society,” he said.“Music serves both as a bridge between nations and a powerful expression of their heritage and identity,” he concluded.Jaishankar’s remarks come as India faces economic and diplomatic challenges, including concerns over possible US tariffs and warnings related to India’s ongoing oil trade with Russia. While the minister did not refer directly to these developments, his emphasis on sovereignty, tradition, and multipolarity echoed India’s current diplomatic positioning.
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