'Still a world of double standards': Jaishankar's dig at Global North

He was speaking at a Ministerial Session titled ‘South Rising: Partnerships, Institutions and Ideas,’ organized by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in conjunction with the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, United Nations India, and the Reliance Foundation.

He also noted that countries with a significant historical influence had weaponised a lot of those capabilities, a report in the media said.

The Minister pointed out that there was political pressure for change more than political will to affect it, adding that there was political resistance, too, against this growing sentiment, said the report.

Referring to the UN Security Council as an example, Jaishankar said those occupying positions of influence were resisting the pressure to change, it added.

Countries that are economically dominant were leveraging their manufacturing capabilities, while those with institutional influence or historical influence actually weaponised a lot of those capabilities as well.

Such countries would speak the ‘right things’ but, it is still a world of double standards.

The transition will really be, in a sense, the Global South putting more and more pressure on the international system, he said, according to the report.

On the face of this, the Global North, including those parts which don’t consider themselves as part of the North, will resist change.

He underscored that cultural rebalancing means recognising and respecting the diversity of the world and giving other cultures and traditions due respect.

Referring to G20 Summit and the focus on the millets, he noted that Global South consumed more millets than wheat.

“In the name of the market, a lot of things are done, like in the name of freedom, a lot of things are done,” he was quoted as saying in the report.