Fragmented world needs new forms of cooperation, says Jaishankar at Jeju Forum

Jeju (South Korea). External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on June 25 argued that global fragmentation is becoming a permanent feature of international politics and economics, but maintained that it could create opportunities for a more democratic and balanced world order if accompanied by stronger international cooperation.

Delivering the keynote address at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity 2026 in South Korea, Jaishankar said the world should accept that fragmentation was “here to stay” and was not entirely negative, as it reduced dominance by a few powers and created greater space for others.

He said the key challenge was to ensure that fragmentation did not undermine efficiency, stability or security, adding that these concerns could only be addressed through deeper cooperation among nations.

According to Jaishankar, the world has always been partly globalised and partly fragmented, but the drivers of fragmentation have changed significantly in recent years, making contemporary geopolitical divisions more complex than in the past.

He pointed to economic integration, supply chains, logistics networks and technological advances as powerful forces pulling nations together. Artificial intelligence, cross-border data flows and the movement of skilled professionals were further accelerating global interconnectedness, he said.

The minister noted that global challenges such as pandemics, terrorism and climate-related disasters had reinforced the need for international cooperation because such problems transcended national boundaries. He highlighted India’s civilisational philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or “the world is one family” as an example of openness towards global cooperation.

At the same time, Jaishankar warned of growing divisive forces in international relations, including the strategic use of financial strength, manufacturing capabilities, market access and control over resources. Economic competition, he said, was increasingly being shaped by geopolitical calculations rather than market considerations.

He also highlighted intensifying technology rivalries and rising geopolitical competition, arguing that international institutions and regimes were losing acceptance when they were perceived to be manipulated or unfairly influenced by entrenched powers.

Referring to developments over the past decade, Jaishankar said global challenges were increasingly being met with national responses. He cited the Covid-19 pandemic, inconsistent approaches to counter-terrorism and inadequate commitments on climate change as examples of this trend.

The minister also criticised attempts to restrict industrialisation in developing countries through barriers to competitiveness and market access, describing such practices as efforts to maintain dominance in the international economy.

Jaishankar said the international system was witnessing greater weaponisation, higher risk-taking and a style of politics influenced by the social media era, with countries increasingly willing to deploy their capabilities to advance national interests.

To address these challenges, he proposed a five-point framework for reinventing cooperation in a fragmented world.

The first step, he said, was to de-risk the global economy by diversifying supply chains and production networks to improve resilience and reduce economic vulnerabilities.

Second, he called for stronger partnerships among influential nations to stabilise the international order and promote issue-based cooperation.

Third, he urged countries to recognise the costs of confrontation and protect international law and global regimes, citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as an important example.

The fourth step involved expanding opportunities for the Global South by enhancing capacities and promoting inclusive growth.

Finally, Jaishankar advocated the provision of global public goods through collective action and called for reformed multilateral institutions that would give the wider international community a greater role in shaping global governance.

He concluded by arguing that the same principles made a compelling case for closer India-South Korea cooperation, highlighting complementarities in shipbuilding, digital technologies, healthcare, infrastructure and defence.

Jaishankar said discussions during his bilateral meetings in South Korea had focused on strengthening economic and technological partnerships, strategic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.