Jaishankar meets G7 ministers at Munich, reiterates India’s push for UNSC reform

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met his G7 counterparts on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference, reiterating India’s backing for reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

The discussion follows India’s conclusion of a free trade agreement (FTA) with the 27-member European Union in January.

Jaishankar in a social media post said he was pleased to engage with G7 Foreign Ministers and reiterated India’s support of the UN@80 agenda, particularly meaningful reform of the UN Security Council.

The external affairs minister said he emphasised India’s role in “safeguarding sea lines of communication, serving as a first responder, strengthening port security, and contributing to resilient submarine cable infrastructure”.

“Our conversation brought out the many convergences and shared interests between India and the G7,” the minister added.

Jaishankar started his Munich Security Conference with a roundtable ‘Delhi Decided: Mapping India’s Policy Calculus’, organised by the Ananta Aspen Centre, a non-partisan organisation.

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The external affairs minister said he highlighted the “importance of a nimble and dynamic foreign policy to meet the demands of multipolarity”.

In a discussion with Indrani Bagchi, CEO Ananta Centre, Jaishankar said he also noted the significance of the India-EU FTA and the India-US trade deal in that regard.

“The discussion looked at India’s growth strategy, the choices before key partners, and why strategic autonomy remains a steady anchor as global dynamics evolve,” the Ananta Centre said.

India and the 27-member European Union announced on January 27 that they had concluded negotiations for a free trade agreement.

The FTA, covering nearly a quarter of global GDP, will eliminate tariffs on 99% of Indian exports to the EU and slash duties on over 97% of EU exports to India, officials said.

Launched in March 2025 by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the UN@80 initiative aims to enhance organisational efficiency, review mandate implementation, and align programmes for a more integrated and responsive UN.

The 62nd Munich Security Conference, running from February 13 to 15, will host nearly 50 heads of state and government, including leaders from most European nations and a large delegation from Germany, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

With inputs from agencies