“It is still a world of double standards”: EAM Jaishankar takes jibe at ‘dominant’ nations

During an event on Saturday evening, called “South Rising: Partnerships, Institutions and Ideas,” Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that economically powerful nations are leveraging production capabilities and that nations with institutional influence have weaponised these strengths. The event hosted by the Observer Research Foundation, in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, United Nations India and the Reliance Foundation.

It is World of double standards: Jaishankar

While taking a dig at dominant countries, citing the example of the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister also stressed that “it is still a world of double standards.”

“There is a growing sentiment in the world and the Global South in a way embodies it. But there’s also political resistance. Those occupying positions of influence are resisting pressure to change”, said EAM Jaishankar. “They will mouth the right things, but the reality is still today, it’s a world very much of double standards,” he added.

India has become the voice of Global South: Jaishankar

Highlighting the Global South and India’s G20 Presidency, Jaishankar underlined how India was ‘The voice of the Global South’ and how it got the G20 to discuss what the world wanted to talk about, the G20’s true dilemma, and turned the global debate back to issues of global growth and development.

“To get the G20, to talk about what the world wanted to talk about, that was the real problem with the G20. Our Prime Minister put it very well, he said first let’s talk to the people who are not going to be on the table. Let’s find out what they have to say. This is why, we were the voice of the Global South. I think it gave us the basis to say, look we have spoken to 125 countries and this is really what is troubling them and that is why we need to focus on this issue”, said Jaishankar.

We got everybody together: Jaishankar

Talking further he added, “On the G20 Summit, a lot of folks were still surprised that we actually got everybody together. I don’t think they completely expected that. So there’ll be one set of people who are still wondering how that happened. The other part, which I think includes some people with me here now has appreciated that we got the G20 to focus on the Global South and that the job for which the G20 was created, which was global growth and development, we got them to refocus on it and with particular attention to the Global South. We did that partly by organizing a Global South summit in advance.”

“I think there’s clearly a sense of history. There is much of the Global South coming from a world that was colonized. There is a sense of geography. Not all countries in the South are part of the Global South. And, I think there’s also the mindset. So, the Global South is an expression, in a way, of a certain solidarity and generosity and sort of a sharing spirit community. I think if you’re part of the Global South, you know it,” he added.