United Nations, Sep 26 The world is witnessing a “weaponisation of everything”, where a mindset of “extreme competition” is undermining institutions and establishing chokepoints, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday.
In his address to the General Debate at the high-level 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Jaishankar told world leaders that peace is not just the absence of war.
“If the world is subjected to continuous threats and pressures, then we are really living on the edge of an abyss. All it takes is one more step to push us over,” he said, addressing world leaders from the iconic UNGA podium.
Jaishankar asserted that it is imperative to strengthen stability, security and predictability, calling these “crucial elements” of the enabling environment for peace.
“If any of them are undermined, peace will inevitably be weakened,” he said.
Underscoring that this should have become second nature after eight decades of the establishment of the UN, Jaishankar voiced concern that “instead, what we are actually seeing is a weaponisation of everything.”
“A mindset of extreme competition has set in, undermining institutions, and establishing chokepoints. It extends from the world of finance to constricting market access, disrupting supply chains and withholding technology.
“Resources and connectivity have become particularly subject to leveraging. As a result, nations are now more focused on de-risking and diversifying. While this may secure their interests to varying degrees, the overall atmosphere is no longer that of trust or goodwill,” he said.
(PTI News)
