EAM Jaishankar slams UN on terrorism, urges urgent UN reform

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday delivered a candid assessment of the United Nations (UN), highlighting structural flaws, credibility gaps, and urgent reform needs. Speaking at an event in Delhi marking the 80th anniversary of the UN, Jaishankar said, “All is not well with the UN,” pointing to decision-making that does not reflect the membership or address global priorities. According to him, the UN’s working is increasingly gridlocked, and debates have grown more polarized, preventing meaningful reforms from taking place. Financial constraints, he added, have further compounded the challenges facing the United Nations, affecting its ability to act effectively on global issues.

Jaishankar emphasized that all member nations face the dual task of sustaining the UN while simultaneously seeking its reinvention. He highlighted that the UN’s current structure reflects the realities of 1945, not the world of 2025, making it less responsive to contemporary challenges. The minister warned that without comprehensive reform, the United Nations risks losing credibility and relevance in addressing pressing global concerns, including security, development, and international cooperation.

The minister strongly criticized the UN’s response to terrorism, raising serious questions about the credibility of the organization. He questioned Pakistan’s role as a UN Security Council member, highlighting cases where sitting members allegedly shield organizations responsible for terror attacks. Jaishankar said, “Few examples are more telling about the challenges facing the UN than its response to terrorism,” adding that equating victims and perpetrators in the name of global strategy undermines the United Nations’ credibility. According to him, shielding self-proclaimed terrorists from sanctions reflects poorly on the sincerity of the multilateral system.

Jaishankar further warned that maintaining international peace and security has increasingly become “lip service” for the UN. He noted that the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Agenda 2030 is slowing down, reflecting growing distress in the Global South. Trade restrictions, supply chain dependencies, and political domination, he argued, highlight the imbalances that the United Nations must address urgently. Jaishankar stressed that reform is not optional but essential for the UN to remain a credible and effective multilateral organization in the 21st century.

Despite these concerns, Jaishankar emphasized that the UN must be supported in this time of crisis, underlining India’s commitment to multilateralism. He said that while the United Nations faces serious structural and operational challenges, backing the organization remains critical to addressing global conflicts, development issues, and socio-economic inequalities. The minister concluded that a strengthened and reformed UN is vital for ensuring that multilateralism continues to serve the global community effectively and credibly.

In his remarks, Jaishankar combined realism with a call to action, urging all member nations to recognize the United Nations’ flaws while working collectively to revitalize its mission. His assessment highlights India’s proactive stance on international diplomacy and reform, emphasizing that a stronger, credible, and reformed UN is in the interest of global peace, security, and sustainable development.