India has stepped up its response to the escalating West Asia conflict, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh set to head a high-level inter-ministerial group, while External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar raised concerns over global supply disruptions at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
The government’s twin approach, setting up a high-level monitoring group at home and actively engaging global partners abroad, signals a coordinated effort to tackle the fallout of the West Asia crisis. Officials said India remains focused on safeguarding its economic interests, ensuring energy security and contributing to global efforts aimed at stabilising the region.
Rajnath Singh to head Inter-Ministerial Group
The Centre has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) under Rajnath Singh to monitor the evolving situation in West Asia and assess its impact on India, as per sources to ANI.
According to sources, the panel includes key ministers, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
The group will review developments linked to energy security, economic stability and internal preparedness amid rising geopolitical tensions in the region.
EAM raises Global South concerns at G7
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, while speaking at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in France, highlighted the wider global implications of the West Asia conflict, particularly for developing nations.
He flagged concerns related to energy availability, fertiliser supplies and food security, stressing that the ongoing crisis is creating uncertainty across global markets and disproportionately affecting the Global South.
Push for supply chain resilience
Jaishankar underlined the need to build more resilient trade corridors and supply chains in the face of geopolitical disruptions. He noted that the current conflict strengthens the case for diversifying supply routes and reducing dependency on vulnerable regions.
He also referred to connectivity initiatives such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), stating that India’s free trade agreements with partners like the European Union, EFTA countries and the United Kingdom enhance its strategic importance.
Call for global governance reforms
During the G7 discussions, the External Affairs Minister also emphasised the urgency of restructuring the United Nations Security Council, improving peacekeeping mechanisms and strengthening humanitarian supply chains.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Jaishankar held bilateral meetings with counterparts from several countries, including France, Canada, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Brazil, South Korea and Ukraine.