In New York, S Jaishankar led the Indian delegation for the 81st UN General Assembly, meeting French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot in the early hours of Monday. They reaffirmed the Special Global Strategic Partnership and reviewed Ukraine and Gulf crises, with Jaishankar noting that "our regular meetings and telecons keep the momentum of our partnership."
After France, Jaishankar sat down with Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Roberto Kury, where they exchanged views on strengthening economic ties, especially in energy, pharmaceuticals, mobility, and training of personnel. Kury said the talks would "enhance cooperation in multilateral fora, including the UN."
The Indian minister then held a meeting with Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar, touching on ways to deepen multilateral cooperation. Blanar highlighted the importance of joint initiatives on climate and security.
In what Jaishankar called a "great first meeting," he met Hungary’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Anita Örbán, resolving to work together to deepen bilateral ties and advance the strategic partnership at UNGA 81. Örbán added that the dialogue would "strengthen our collaboration in key global issues."
All these discussions set the stage for Jaishankar’s address to world leaders at the UN General Debate on September 26, where he will outline India’s foreign policy priorities and propose reforms to the UN Security Council.