India on Monday (September 21, 2026) joined the Partnership for Multilateralism, endorsing the “non-superpower” grouping originally launched by the European Union (EU), Brazil, Canada and Kenya, and became an additional co-sponsor of the initiative along with Australia and Barbados.
Jaishankar’s agenda, this year is to garner support for India at next year’s election for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) non-permanent membership for the 2028-2029 period. Within a few hours of landing in New York on Monday (September 21), Mr. Officials say the rest of the External Affairs Minister’s schedule this week — he is expected to remain in New York until he addresses the General Assembly on Saturday (September 19) — will be equally packed for multiple reasons.
However, this time, Tajikistan has also launched its candidature for the seat, and unless New Delhi can ensure a compromise, convincing the Tajik government to step aside in exchange for support for a future election, this will turn into a contest for the Asian seat. As a result, all eyes will be on any meeting between Mr. The meeting of the grouping, called P4M, which is expected to build support for the United Nations and multilateralism, was one of several bilateral and multilateral meetings External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar took part in as he and the Indian delegation navigate a tough task list this week at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). On top of Mr. Jaishankar met with Foreign Ministers from France, Ecuador, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Moldova, and Switzerland. He also met the President of Naoero (Nauru), participated in the P4M meeting, had another meeting with EU ministers, and attended an India-Visegrad group meeting with the Central European nations of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia. The meetings with European leaders, as well as expected meetings this week with his counterparts from the United States and Canada, are also expected to prepare for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visits to Brussels, Miami and Ottawa in December. India has thus far been elected to the UNSC eight times, and on most occasions, has been the single name put forward for the Asia-Pacific group. Jaishankar and the Tajikistan Foreign Minister, Sirojiddin Muhriddin. In addition, Mr. Jaishankar’s meetings with Ministers from other Central Asian countries, as well as from other parts of the Global South, will also be watched for any announcements of support for India’s candidature.
