This will be an age of change, I believe we will rise to the challenges: Jaishankar

In this picture released on Oct. 5, 2026, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar along with Institute for Economic Growth (IEG) President NK Singh (left) and former Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yee (right) during the closing session of the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave (KEC 2026) on the theme ‘India by the New Delhi’: Adaptive Design in Adaptive. | Photo Credit: X/@DrSJaishankar via PTI

It will be an age of change for the world, with conflicts and tariff volatility making it turbulent, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday (Oct 5, 2026), stressing that responding to challenges emerging from “troubled waters” was the task ahead.

“I am very confident that we will rise to these challenges,” Mr Jaishankar said during an interactive session at the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave in New Delhi.

The theme of the flagship event was “Resilience in an Age of Flux”.

Mr Jaishankar shared the dais with former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yong Boon Yee during the final session of the three-day conclave.

The minister was asked how he sees future challenges amid geopolitical uncertainties.

“We know it’s going to be an age of change, as you call it. And it’s going to be turbulent and volatile, with uncertainties. We’re seeing two major conflicts; we’re seeing more friction. As I said, there’s pressure from non-market factors, tariff fluctuations,” Mr Jaishankar said.

“So, taking all of that into consideration… Yes, it’s choppy waters,” he said.

However, the minister said that as India’s record shows, “we have been able to face the challenges, be it Covid or today’s challenge of dual conflict”.

“The challenges of energy, food, fertilisers… We have to include them in our thinking, plan and respond – that is in a sense the task ahead of us. And I am very confident that we will rise to the challenge,” he said.

Mr. Jaishankar also spoke about asserting the voice of the Global South.

“The Global South expects India to perform on the world stage,” he said.

According to the minister, New Delhi claims that dialogue and diplomacy are the way to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

On reforms needed for the UN and other multilateral institutions, Mr Jaishankar said: “The UN is at a standstill,” adding that several countries are resisting its reforms.

Published – 5 Oct 2026 22:03 IST