External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday, 31 October made a strong pitch at the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Atlanta for protecting the 'right to industrialise', resisting predatory supply chain practices, and pushing for the de-politicisation of global markets. His remarks came as the summit's final plenary — focused exclusively on supply chains — wrapped up under the US G20 presidency.

Key Demands Jaishankar Placed Before the G20

Outlining India's position, Jaishankar argued that supply chain resilience is now central to the health of the global economy. He called for diversification and de-risking — including in connectivity — as a shield against disruptions from pandemics, conflicts, climate events, and industrial mishaps.

Jaishankar said: 'The right to industrialise must be promoted; predatory practices and targeting competition should be firmly resisted.' He pushed further, arguing that de-concentration of the global economy and optimisation of production across geographies could 'discourage the weaponisation of finance, resources, production and market share.'

Calling for structural reform at the multilateral level, he said: 'G20 countries must reconcile their national interests for the collective good by promoting transparent and multiple supply chains, making the global economy truly multi-stakeholder.'

Rubio Echoes Supply Chain Priority, Flags Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who hosted the meeting on behalf of the US G20 presidency, also centred his closing remarks on supply chains. In a post on X, Rubio stated: 'Secure supply chains are essential for growth.'

Rubio specifically flagged the security of critical trade routes — the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait — and called for strengthening and expanding critical mineral supply chains to protect future economic stability. The convergence between Jaishankar's and Rubio's framing points to a rare area of US-India alignment on multilateral economic architecture.

Quad Foreign Ministers Convene in Atlanta

Earlier on Saturday, Jaishankar also participated in the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Atlanta alongside Rubio, Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong. He described it as 'the third such interaction this year', following earlier meetings in New Delhi and Manila.

Among the themes flagged at the Quad session were deepening cooperation on supply chain resilience, ensuring access to technology, critical minerals, and energy security, and countering non-market practices and rising economic stresses across the Indo-Pacific.

Jaishankar Meets Lavrov on Ukraine, Gulf, and Multilateral Issues

On the sidelines of the G20 meeting, Jaishankar also held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He said the discussion covered the Ukraine conflict, the Gulf situation, and multilateral issues — a meeting that underlines India's continued diplomatic engagement with Moscow even as it deepens ties with Western partners within the Quad framework.

This comes amid growing global pressure on nations to pick sides in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. India's simultaneous participation in both the Quad and bilateral talks with Lavrov reflects its long-standing doctrine of strategic autonomy.

What Comes Next

The US holds the G20 presidency in 2025, and the Atlanta ministerial outcome will feed into the broader G20 Leaders' Summit agenda. India's consistent advocacy for the industrialisation rights of the Global South — and its resistance to supply chain weaponisation — is expected to shape India's diplomatic posture heading into the next cycle of multilateral engagements.