Coercive, unjustifiable measures: Jaishankar's dig at US sanctions during BRICS meet
The External Affairs Minister said these developments are not isolated events but interconnected challenges that are straining multilateral institutions and worsening vulnerabilities for developing nations.
In an indirect reference to sweeping US tariffs on Indian imports, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday called for addressing unilateral sanctions that he said violate international law, as foreign ministers of the BRICS bloc met in New Delhi against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions and divisions over conflicts in West Asia.
In his opening remarks at the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Jaishankar said the global system is under pressure from multiple crises, including armed conflicts, climate disruptions and the after-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We must also address the increasing resort to unilateral coercive measures and sanctions inconsistent with international law and the UN Charter. Such measures disproportionately affect developing countries. These unjustifiable measures cannot substitute dialogue, nor can pressure replace diplomacy," Jaishankar said.
For the uninitiated, US President Donald Trump levied 25 percent reciprocal tariffs on Indian imports and another 25 percent over New Delhi's purchase of Russian oil. He warned of further sanctions if India did not stop the Russian oil imports.
However, a US International Trade tariff ruling in February 2026 pushed the levies back toward standard WTO most-favoured-nation levels, with some products temporarily facing a 10% duty, which is a temporary import surcharge on goods exported to the US.
He said these developments are not isolated events but interconnected challenges that are straining multilateral institutions and worsening vulnerabilities for developing nations.
The EAM's remarks come as the BRICS meeting has been overshadowed by divisions within the expanded bloc over the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.
Diplomats said differing positions between Iran and the UAE have complicated efforts to issue a joint closing statement.
The two-day meeting in New Delhi brought together foreign ministers from most member states, including Abbas Araqchi and Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar. India holds the BRICS chairmanship for 2026.
Jaishankar said "peace and security remain central to the global order," adding that recent conflicts underline the importance of diplomacy. He said emerging economies were increasingly looking to the BRICS as a stabilising force amid global uncertainty.
"There is a growing expectation, particularly from emerging markets and developing countries, that BRICS will play a constructive and stabilising role," he said.
Jaishankar said the impact of regional conflicts extends well beyond their immediate geography, creating stress on energy supplies, food and fertiliser security, supply chains and inflation. He said these pressures are particularly severe for emerging markets, where economic resilience remains fragile.
ON GEOPOLITICAL TENSIONS
Referring to the situation in West Asia, Jaishankar said continued instability has raised concerns over maritime security and energy infrastructure.
He stressed that uninterrupted movement through key waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea remains critical for the global economy.
He also pointed to the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and reiterated India’s support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian issue. He said a sustained ceasefire, unhindered aid access and a credible peace process were essential.
Jaishankar said instability in Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Libya required continued diplomatic engagement, warning that peace cannot be selective or partial.
On terrorism, he said there could be no justification "in any form," adding that cross-border terrorism violates the basic principles of international relations and that zero tolerance must remain universal.
The minister also called for reforms to the UN system, saying current institutions are failing to keep pace with global realities.
He renewed India’s push for reform of the UN Security Council, including expansion in both permanent and non-permanent membership categories.
"The message from our times is clear: cooperation is essential, dialogue is necessary, and reform is overdue," Jaishankar said, adding that India remains committed to working with all partners to build a more equitable and inclusive international order.