What Did India's External Affairs Minister Discuss with UN Chief Antonio Guterres?

Key Discussions at the United Nations

United Nations: India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, recently engaged in discussions with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, focusing on various ongoing conflicts and their repercussions on nations within the Global South.

This meeting took place at the UN headquarters on Tuesday, coinciding with the conclusion of Jaishankar's activities during the high-level week of the UN General Assembly.

In a post shared on X, Jaishankar expressed his satisfaction, stating, "Glad to meet @UN Secretary General @antonioguterres today. Our discussions focused on ongoing conflicts and the need to mitigate their impact, especially on the Global South."

According to a summary released by the Secretary-General's office, the two leaders addressed topics such as multilateralism, the collaboration between India and the UN, and significant geopolitical issues, including the conflict in Ukraine and the Middle Eastern situation.

Guterres acknowledged India's contributions and cooperation with the UN during their conversation.

While presenting India's national statement at the General Debate on Saturday, Jaishankar commended Guterres for his leadership as his term nears its conclusion in December.

"After a decade of service and dedication to the cause of multilateralism, we will soon bid farewell to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. India deeply values his many contributions, particularly his personal support for Mission LiFE," he remarked.

This meeting marked Guterres's final high-level UNGA week, as his second five-year term as the UN's head will conclude in December 2026.

Earlier this month, he had visited India for the BRICS Leaders' Summit.

Jaishankar also mentioned that he had a busy week, meeting with approximately 85 to 90 counterparts during his time at the UN.