Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday called for an “urgent” reform of multilateral institutions to reflect the changing global order, saying stronger cooperation among smaller groups of countries could support the process.
Jaishankar also cited the India-UAE partnership over the past decade as an example of how countries have responded to global changes. He separately held talks with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan to discuss bilateral and global issues.
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Jaishankar made the remarks at a session of the Middle East edition of the Raisina Dialogue in Abu Dhabi on October 15. He joined Sheikh Abdullah for a discussion titled ‘The World Ahead: Power, Purpose & Possibility’.
During the discussion, Jaishankar said the pace of change in the global order was increasing because of both “long-term trends and immediate shocks”, prompting countries to explore partnerships and alternatives suited to their circumstances.
“New partnerships and fresh options are inevitably explored in that pursuit,” he said in a social media post after the discussion.
Jaishankar said this required countries to move beyond traditional comfort zones and develop sharper strategic awareness. “The reform of multilateralism is urgent. It can be supported through stronger minilateralism,” he said.
Minilateralism refers to cooperation among a relatively small group of countries on specific issues. Such groups can often work more effectively when broader multilateral forums struggle to reach a consensus.
Referring to ties between India and the UAE, Jaishankar said, “The India-UAE partnership of the last decade is a great example of our two nations responding to the changing global environment.”
Jaishankar described his separate bilateral meeting with Sheikh Abdullah as “warm and productive”. The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral and global issues in the spirit of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UAE.
Jaishankar arrived in the UAE on Wednesday for a three-day official visit to review progress in bilateral ties. India and the UAE have expanded cooperation in trade, investment, energy, defence and security in recent years.
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which came into force in May 2022, has provided a framework to boost bilateral trade and economic engagement.
The UAE is an important partner for India in the Gulf region. It is home to a large Indian expatriate community and is a key source of energy supplies and investment.
According to the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi, Indians are the largest ethnic community in the UAE and account for about 35 per cent of its population. The number of Indian nationals living in the UAE was estimated at 4.3 million in 2024.
About 15 per cent of the Indian diaspora lives in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, while the rest is spread across the other six emirates, including Dubai. Kerala has the largest representation among Indian states, followed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. People from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and other states also form significant sections of the Indian community.
Jaishankar’s visit focuses on reviewing India-UAE ties, while his remarks at the Raisina Dialogue called for urgent changes to multilateral institutions and stronger cooperation among smaller groups of countries to address the changing global order.
With PTI Inputs
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
