Jaishankar joins EU, Indo-Pacific FMs at UN to strengthen international law
Synopsis
On the sidelines of UNGA High-Level Week, EAM Jaishankar joined EU and Indo-Pacific foreign ministers — including Australia's Penny Wong and South Korea's Cho Hyun — to discuss defending international law, UN reform, and a common AI governance framework. A separate bilateral with Swiss FM Cassis put the spotlight on the newly live India-EFTA trade pact. India is clearly positioning itself at the intersection of two of the world's most consequential blocs.
Key Takeaways
Jaishankar attended an informal meeting with EU and Indo-Pacific foreign ministers in New York on 22 September 2025 .
Topics included cooperation to uphold international law , UN reform , and a common AI governance framework .
Australia's Penny Wong and South Korea's Cho Hyun were among Indo-Pacific ministers present; Poland's Radosław Sikorski confirmed the agenda on X .
Jaishankar cited discussions on India-EU cooperation and current developments in the Gulf, Ukraine, and Indo-Pacific .
A separate bilateral with Swiss FM Ignazio Cassis reviewed India-EFTA TEPA implementation and multilateral cooperation.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday, 22 September 2025, held an informal meeting in New York with European Union counterparts and select Indo-Pacific foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, with cooperation to uphold the principles of international law topping the agenda. The gathering underscores deepening diplomatic convergence between Europe and the Indo-Pacific at a time of compounding global crises.
Key Themes Discussed
Poland's Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski, who attended the session, confirmed in an X post that “cooperation between Europe and the Indo-Pacific region to defend the fundamental principles of international law” was among the central topics. Ministers also addressed strengthening the role of the UN in maintaining international peace and security, and coordination of actions in multilateral forums.
Notably, developing a common framework for technology — particularly artificial intelligence — featured on the agenda, reflecting the growing consensus that AI governance can no longer be treated as a domestic or bilateral matter alone.
India-EU Cooperation and Regional Developments
Jaishankar described the meeting as productive, saying he “appreciated meeting my European Union colleagues.” He added that discussions spanned India-EU cooperation, multilateral issues, and “current developments, including in the Gulf, Ukraine and Indo-Pacific.”
Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong and South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun were among the Indo-Pacific ministers present, broadening the meeting's regional footprint beyond South Asia.
Jaishankar Meets Swiss FM on India-EFTA Trade Pact
Separately, Jaishankar held a bilateral meeting with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis during the same High-Level Week. The two reviewed progress on India-Switzerland economic ties following the entry into force of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). They also exchanged views on global issues and avenues to strengthen multilateral cooperation.
Jaishankar described it as “a warm meeting,” noting he “took stock of our strengthening economic ties with the entry into force of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement.”
Context: India at UNGA High-Level Week
The high-level session of the UN General Assembly formally began on Tuesday, drawing heads of state and foreign ministers from across the globe to New York. For India, the week represents a concentrated window for bilateral and plurilateral diplomacy — this informal EU-Indo-Pacific gathering being one of several engagements Jaishankar has lined up. This comes amid heightened geopolitical tension over the Ukraine conflict, evolving Gulf dynamics, and intensifying strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, all of which figured in the ministers' discussions.
As UNGA High-Level Week unfolds, further bilateral meetings and multilateral statements from Jaishankar are expected, with India's position on international law and AI governance likely to receive additional elaboration on the global stage.
Point of View
And the explicit invocation of 'defending fundamental principles of international law' is diplomatic shorthand directed at specific actors — notably Russia over Ukraine and China over maritime disputes. India's presence signals it is comfortable being seen in this company without formally joining any alliance. The AI governance discussion is equally telling: a common transatlantic-Indo-Pacific framework on technology would carry normative weight that rivals Beijing's and Washington's unilateral standard-setting efforts. Whether this informal gathering evolves into a structured forum is the question mainstream coverage is not yet asking.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did EAM Jaishankar discuss at the EU and Indo-Pacific foreign ministers' meeting at UNGA?
Jaishankar and his counterparts discussed cooperation to defend the fundamental principles of international law, strengthening the UN's role in maintaining peace and security, coordination in multilateral forums, and developing a common framework for AI governance. Jaishankar also raised India-EU cooperation and current developments in the Gulf, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific.
Who attended the EU-Indo-Pacific foreign ministers' meeting in New York?
Among those present were EAM S. Jaishankar, Poland's Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski representing the EU, Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, along with other EU and Indo-Pacific counterparts.
What is the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)?
The India-EFTA TEPA is a trade and economic partnership agreement between India and the four EFTA nations — Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein — which has recently entered into force. Jaishankar reviewed the strengthening of India-Switzerland economic ties under this agreement during his bilateral meeting with Swiss FM Ignazio Cassis at UNGA High-Level Week.
Why is the EU-Indo-Pacific ministerial on international law significant for India?
India's participation signals its willingness to align with Europe and key Indo-Pacific partners on rules-based order without formally joining any alliance. Given ongoing tensions over Ukraine and maritime disputes in the South China Sea, the meeting carries geopolitical weight beyond its informal format.
What is the UN General Assembly High-Level Week?
The UN General Assembly High-Level Week is an annual gathering in New York where heads of state and foreign ministers address the General Assembly and hold bilateral and multilateral talks. The 2025 high-level session opened on Tuesday, 23 September, providing the backdrop for Jaishankar's multiple diplomatic engagements.
