"Lot of anxieties in some parts of the world," EAM Jaishankar at 8th Indian Ocean Conference - World News Network

Muscat [Oman], February 17 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar while speaking at the 8th Indian Ocean Conference panel discussion said that the happenings in the US, has caused anxiety in several parts of the world.
Jaishankar said that all countries have to assess the situation without being emotional and attached to habits.
“Clearly a lot of new things, some of which was predictable if we were tuned in to what was coming out of the US for the last year or before that, perhaps even longer. Obviously a lot of anxieties in some parts of the world, a lot of opportunities for many. I think what’s important is to kind of assess it without getting too emotional or you know attached to your habits, understand that this is a change which is upon us whether we like it or not. It’s happening by the way, we do like some parts of it definitely and then look to see where are the openings and the possibilities out there,” he said.
Jaishankar also said that India has long struggled with the hegemony of the West.
“One of the issues we have struggled with in a way is a kind of hegemonism of the global West. I heard a lot of talk today about external interference or political interference, but in a way the same thing was happening in the name of human rights and values. When we look at it there are no possibilities of evening out this conversation that many many practises which were supposedly universal which were not, we have now a greater ability to push back to say that well it may work that way where you’re concerned, but that isn’t so for everybody,” he said.
He further said that when there is a push for universalism, there is expectation that it would come out of the people of New York.
“So I would argue in a way there’s a greater opportunity in a more diversified world differentiated world to have more democratic conversations. So the, the persistent push for universalism, that moment you believe is now perhaps facing a severe pushback. I think that kind of globalisation there was an economic foundation to it, and there was an ideological superstructure to it. I think the superstructure definitely is challenged if not discredited. I think the foundation is being contested. So today when we say let’s have more resilient, reliable supply chain, that’s a polite way of saying I contest that model of globalisation where all roads lead to one geography. When you say that let’s have an active debate, you’re challenging the view that there is one truth and it has to come out of people in New York,” he said.
Jaishankar further said that US President Donald Trump wields immense power, and that something big was going to happen.
“I think you’ll get enough things in those 2 years or less. Which will profoundly change the world, so the 50 states may carry on with the model, but because the President of the United States holds such exceptional power. And the country has so much influence that within this period in fact I would predict much earlier that you’re going to get policies which will reshape the international order. I’m just predicting what is to come. Something big is coming at us,” he said.
Jaishankar also said that around the world, people are losing trust on politicians. He said that India is an exception in this case, as the ruling party was elected thrice. But this was a problem worldwide.
“Around the world, politics and politicians have generally got discredited. I think there’s a loss of trust. I would again argue we are a bit of an exception. It’s not it’ll be very tough today in a really democratic society for anybody to get 3 continuous terms, which is what has happened in India, but we are an outlier in this respect, but it’s not just politics which has got discredited. I think in a way diplomacy has got discredited the international economy has got discredited the kind of model which we have touted,” he said.
He also said that the leaders are dealing with unhappy and disillusioned world.
“As being universally good is seen by many people as being built on their jobs which were taken away from them in India, for example, if you look at smaller and medium producers, they are very angered at the kind of dumping of goods which is taking place in the Indian market, we all know from where. So I think we are dealing today with a much more disillusioned, unhappy world which is ready for change which says that look, I don’t believe all that non-law of jungle stuff which I’ve been hearing for so many years,” he said. (ANI)

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