International waterways must remain safe and unimpeded: S. Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the need for safe and unimpeded international maritime channels during the East Asia Summit. He also advocated for diplomatic solutions to conflicts in the Persian Gulf and Myanmar, while reaffirming India's commitment to regional stability.
Why it matters
India's diplomatic stance on maritime security and regional conflicts is crucial for maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Participating in the 21 st East Asia Summit in Manila, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Thursday (July 23, 2026), that the global maritime channels “must remain safe and unimpeded”.
In the meeting, Mr. Jaishankar also called for dialogue and diplomacy in dealing with the crisis in the Persian Gulf region and for finding a “political solution” to the civil conflict in Myanmar, where Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) have been challenging the authority of the military junta that took power in February 2021.
“Calling for dialogue and diplomacy to end the West Asia/Gulf conflict, India stresses that international waterways must remain safe and unimpeded, fully in consonance with international law. Under no circumstances can attacks on seafarers, civilian shipping or infrastructure be countenanced,” said Mr. Jaishankar. He described the evolving condition of the global order as “uncertain and volatile”.
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