Jaishankar says global shift toward multipolar world as US embraces strategic autonomy

At an Asia Society gathering in New York, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted a shift in U.S. foreign policy, noting that Washington now pursues a strategy of strategic autonomy by cultivating diverse partnerships worldwide. He recalled a past U.S. stance that urged India to concentrate on its ties with Washington while the U.S. kept its own options open, a stance he said has now disappeared. Jaishankar argued that this openness among nations reflects a broader trend toward a multipolar global system.

He pointed to the United States’ active engagement with China, Russia, Ukraine, and other regions as evidence of this new approach. The remarks were made in dialogue with former US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russell.