External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar delivered the keynote address at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity 2026 in South Korea, where he argued that fragmentation in global affairs should not be seen solely as a negative development, reported NDTV.

He stated that the future of global stability rests on deeper cooperation among nations rather than a return to older hierarchical power structures.

Jaishankar emphasised that fragmentation has become a permanent feature of international relations. While acknowledging the challenges it presents, he highlighted that it also creates space for greater democratisation and reduces the dominance of a few powerful states. He remarked that the Forum’s theme of treating fragmentation as a problem and reinventing cooperation as a solution was apt, but insisted that fragmentation is here to stay and can have positive consequences.


He explained that the world has always been a blend of globalisation and fragmentation, but the forces shaping these dynamics have become increasingly complex. Economic integration, resilient supply chains, logistics networks, technological innovation and the movement of talent are now powerful forces binding nations together.

Jaishankar underlined that supply chains are central to global stability, stressing their efficiency and resilience. He noted that technology and artificial intelligence are accelerating cross-border integration, with AI’s reliance on data capture and model deployment making it inherently transnational.

At the same time, he warned that strategic competition is intensifying. Nations are leveraging financial strength, production capabilities, technological advantages and control over resources for geopolitical purposes. He observed that economic activity is becoming closely tied to national security calculations, with commerce increasingly influenced by strategic considerations.

He pointed to growing technology rivalries and geopolitical competition as examples of this trend. He also criticised selective approaches to global challenges, citing the Covid-19 pandemic, terrorism and climate change as areas where responses have been driven more by national interests than collective responsibility.

On terrorism, Jaishankar condemned double standards, while on climate change he noted that action has often been marked by empty promises. He expressed concern that developing countries face obstacles in their economic growth, with non-market factors and restrictions on market access limiting opportunities for industrialisation in the Global South.

Summarising the international landscape, he said the world is experiencing greater weaponisation, higher risk-taking and a politics shaped by the social media era. In such an environment, he argued that cooperation among a broader range of countries is essential to counterbalance narrow national interests.

To reinvent cooperation in a fragmented world, Jaishankar proposed a five-point framework. This included diversifying supply chains, building closer partnerships among influential nations, strengthening respect for international law, expanding opportunities for the Global South and pursuing reformed multilateralism to provide global public goods.

He stressed the importance of institutions and legal frameworks such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, insisting they must be collectively protected and promoted.

Concluding his remarks, Jaishankar made a strong case for deeper collaboration between India and South Korea. He identified opportunities in shipbuilding, digital technologies, healthcare, infrastructure and defence, arguing that stronger bilateral ties would contribute not only to mutual prosperity but also to a more stable global order.

He closed by asserting that the world must take more control over its own future, underscoring the need for broader participation in shaping international norms and institutions.

Agencies