'Politicisation of energy flows harmful': EAM calls for diversified supply chains at G20

Jaishankar speaks at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta, calling for diversified supply chains and the de-politicisation of energy markets

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday called for reducing political interference in energy markets and diversifying global supply chains, saying disruptions were placing a disproportionate burden on developing countries.Speaking about the message he delivered at G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta, Jaishankar said the discussions covered geopolitical conflicts, energy and food security, and resilient supply chains.“Look, there are big conflicts today, two major conflicts which are having global ramifications,” ANI quoted him as saying. He added that “there are no military solutions; we have to find a diplomatic pathway.”On energy security, Jaishankar warned against disruptions in fuel distribution and their impact on developing economies. “This distortion of the energy markets, the politicisation of energy flows, this is something which is very harmful,” he said, adding that “the Global South was bearing the brunt of the energy shortages and that something needs to be done.”He also flagged risks to food security, citing disruptions to grain shipments through the Black Sea and fertiliser shortages linked to tensions in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea regions.

At the meeting's concluding session on supply chains, Jaishankar called for wider diversification of manufacturing and production across countries. “Today we need more diversified supply chains,” he said, advocating “more globalised, you know, more diversified production, more diversified manufacturing.”In a post on X after the session, he said securing supply chains was central to the global economy's well-being and called on the G20 to promote “the right to industrialise” and resist “predatory practices”.“Diversification and de-risking, including in connectivity, is the key to supply chain resilience, threatened by pandemics, conflicts, climate events and mishaps,” he said.

Jaishankar also urged the grouping to work towards the “de-politicisation of markets” and prevent the concentration of production and resources in a few geographies.US secretary of state Marco Rubio, who hosted the meeting, also stressed the need to secure critical trade routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb, and strengthen supply chains for critical minerals.On the sidelines, Jaishankar attended a Quad foreign ministers' meeting with Rubio and his Japanese and Australian counterparts. He also met Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, with discussions covering the Ukraine conflict, the Gulf situation and multilateral issues.