External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday emphasised that India and South Korea need to deepen cooperation across key sectors such as shipbuilding, healthcare, infrastructure, digital technology and defence to unlock their full partnership potential.
The minister also advocated for greater empowerment of the Global South, saying developing nations should be given more opportunities and capacities to contribute to global growth. Without naming any specific country, Jaishankar observed that the interests of a select few nations are increasingly being prioritised at the expense of the wider international community.
Jaishankar made the remarks while addressing the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity 2026 during his two-day visit to South Korea. The trip marks the second leg of his ongoing foreign tour following his recent visit to Mongolia.
Highlighting the growing strategic importance of India-South Korea ties, Jaishankar stressed the need to strengthen economic and technological partnerships, expand political and strategic engagement, and foster closer people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
“India and the Republic of Korea must cooperate more closely,” he said. “We have strong complementarities in areas such as shipbuilding, digital technology, healthcare, infrastructure and defence that are yet to be fully leveraged.” The minister further argued that influential countries must build new partnerships and develop stronger understandings to address emerging global challenges and maintain stability in an increasingly complex international environment.
“The Global South should be provided greater capacity and opportunities. This would also create new drivers of global growth,” Jaishankar said.
He noted that as the priorities of a few countries are increasingly placed at the forefront, the concerns and costs borne by a larger number of nations often receive less attention. According to him, this trend can only be addressed through broader cooperation involving a wider range of stakeholders.
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“As the interests of a few are openly prioritised, the costs to the many are less considered. This can only be countered by cooperation on more issues with greater players. Ultimately, we will see whether multipolarity truly delivers,” he remarked. Calling for stronger international collaboration, Jaishankar pointed out that many contemporary challenges transcend national borders and require collective responses.
“Whether it is pandemics such as Covid-19, acts of terrorism, or the consequences of extreme climate events, these issues cannot be confined within political boundaries. International cooperation is essential,” he said.
On the sidelines of the Jeju Forum, Jaishankar also held meetings with former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former Mongolian Prime Minister Gombojav Zandanshatar.
Earlier on Wednesday, the External Affairs Minister met South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, with the two leaders discussing bilateral cooperation and the rapidly evolving global landscape.
Their discussions focused on implementing key initiatives in trade, investment and finance that were agreed upon during South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's state visit to India in April, reflecting both countries' commitment to further strengthening their strategic partnership.
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