Jaishankar at BBG Forum with Canada FM, ex-PMs of Australia and UK
Synopsis
EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar shared a panel at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi with Canadian FM Anita Anand, former Australian PM Kevin Rudd and former UK PM Rishi Sunak — a convergence of active and former top-tier diplomats on Indian soil.
Key Takeaways
Union External Affairs Minister Dr.
Jaishankar participated in the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi on 14 October 2026 .
The panel included Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand , currently serving in an active bilateral diplomatic capacity with India.
Kevin Rudd , former Australian Prime Minister and leading Asia-Pacific strategist, joined the discussion.
Rishi Sunak , former UK Prime Minister, rounded out the four-member panel spanning Commonwealth and Five Eyes nations.
The forum reflects India's post-G20 strategy of hosting major international economic and geopolitical conversations in New Delhi.
Live bilateral agendas — India-Canada recalibration, India-Australia economic partnership, India-UK FTA negotiations — give the panel real diplomatic texture.
A single panel at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi brought together four of the world's most consequential foreign-policy voices on Wednesday, 14 October 2026 — and Union External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar was at the centre of it. Seated alongside Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Jaishankar engaged a room that spans the Indo-Pacific, the Commonwealth, and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.
Who shared the stage with Jaishankar
Anita Anand brings the weight of active diplomacy to the panel — she currently serves as Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, having previously led the country's defence portfolio. Her presence alongside India's top diplomat is notable given that India-Canada ties have navigated significant turbulence in recent years. Kevin Rudd, former Australian Prime Minister and one of the Anglophone world's foremost authorities on China and Asia-Pacific strategy, adds a regional dimension. Rishi Sunak, the former UK Prime Minister, rounds out a panel where economic policy, global trade architecture, and security all converge.
New Delhi as a hub for global economic dialogue
India's choice to host the Bloomberg New Economy Forum — a global platform that tracks economic trends, technology shifts, and geopolitical realignment — reflects a deliberate post-G20 strategy. New Delhi has worked consistently to position itself not merely as a participant in global conversations but as their venue and, increasingly, their convener. Forums like this one serve that ambition directly.
The mix of an incumbent Canadian minister and two former heads of government from Australia and the UK signals the breadth of India's engagement with Commonwealth and Five Eyes nations — on themes that run from trade corridors and critical technology to security architecture across the Indo-Pacific.
Why this conversation matters beyond the room
Jaishankar is among the most active foreign ministers in the world by any measure — his diplomatic calendar rarely features a quiet week. But a multi-lateral, on-record conversation with figures from Canada, Australia, and the UK at a major international economic forum carries particular weight. Each bilateral relationship in that room carries its own live agenda: India-Canada in a period of recalibration, India-Australia under a comprehensive economic partnership, and India-UK with a long-pending free-trade agreement still in negotiation.
The fact that this exchange happened in New Delhi, on Indian soil, at an event hosted in India, underscores a consistent Jaishankar-era message: India is not a country that flies to the table — it sets the table.
Point of View
Indo-Pacific architecture, and economic partnerships all represented in one room. Hosting the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi, rather than attending one abroad, is itself a policy signal consistent with India's post-G20 self-positioning as a convening power. The presence of an active Canadian foreign minister alongside former leaders from Australia and the UK also suggests that India is being sought out as an anchor in conversations about global economic reordering, not merely invited to them. Watch whether any specific deliverables on the India-UK FTA or India-Canada bilateral normalisation are reported in the forum's follow-up.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bloomberg New Economy Forum?
The Bloomberg New Economy Forum is a global platform for high-level discussions on economic trends, technology, and geopolitics. It has been hosted in various Asian capitals and brings together heads of government, ministers, and business leaders.
Who did Jaishankar meet at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi?
Dr. S. Jaishankar participated in a panel with Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the forum held in New Delhi on 14 October 2026.
What is the current state of India-Canada relations?
India-Canada ties have faced significant strain in recent years over diplomatic disputes. The presence of Canadian FM Anita Anand at a forum alongside EAM Jaishankar in New Delhi signals continued engagement at the highest levels.
Why is Kevin Rudd significant in Asia-Pacific diplomacy?
Kevin Rudd is a former Australian Prime Minister widely regarded as one of the Anglophone world's foremost experts on China and Asia-Pacific regional strategy, making his engagement with India's foreign minister particularly notable.
What is India's approach to hosting international forums?
Since the G20 presidency, India has pursued a deliberate strategy of hosting major international economic and policy forums in New Delhi to reinforce its role as a global convening power rather than solely a participant.
