India best suited to lead the developing world, top diplomat tells UN, in subtle jab at China

Citing economic and other aid New Delhi has given, foreign minister says country’s goals make it ‘different from all those whose rise preceded ours’

But India treads narrow path with West over friendly ties with Russia and Ottawa’s allegations that New Delhi was involved in a Canadian’s killing

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Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s foreign minister, speaks during the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 3:10am, 27 Sep 2023Updated: 5:41am, 27 Sep 2023

India has staked a claim as the leading voice of the developing world in an “emerging multipolar order”, casting itself at the United Nations General Assembly as a better fit for the role than other regional powers like China.

Addressing the general assembly in New York on Tuesday, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar cited Sri Lanka’s economic downturn, which India and many Western countries and their allies have blamed on Beijing’s “debt diplomacy”.

“When Sri Lanka experienced a severe economic crisis, it was India that first stepped forward,” India’s top diplomat said.

Even in distant regions, partners like the Pacific island nations “have appreciated our contributions to meet their needs in health, in technology and in climate action”, he added.

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Jaishankar said “so many nations” identified with India because of its history, geography and culture. As an aspiring leading power, India had “never been seen as being in contradiction with global good”.