Invasion of Ukraine has made the economic situation arduous

The path the world faces amidst geopolitical headwinds in the aftermath of developments in Ukraine has become arduous because of its knock on effect on food and energy security as well as fertilizer and commodities prices and Logistics and supply chain disruptions External affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar said

There is much ground to be covered for post-pandemic recovery.

Dr Jaishankar who was addressing the foreign ministers of ASEAN Countries in New Delhi said the Covid-19 pandemic had not fully abated and there is much ground to be covered for post-pandemic recovery.

The two-day meeting is being co-chaired by external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan, who both referred to the fallout of the war in Ukraine in their opening remarks.

The foreign ministers of India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) began a special meeting in New Delhi to review relations between the two sides and to forge a response to the impact of the Ukraine crisis on the economy and security of the region.

Dr.Jaishankar described Asean as a “beacon of regionalism, multilateralism and globalization” that has carved out a niche for itself in the region and provided the foundation for the evolving strategic and economic architecture in the Indo-Pacific.

Asean’s role today is perhaps more important than ever before

'“Asean’s role today is perhaps more important than ever before, given the geopolitical challenges and uncertainties that the world faces. India fully supports a strong, unified and prosperous ASEAN, one whose centrality in the Indo-Pacific is fully recognized,” he said.

A better connected India and Asean would be well positioned to promote decentralized globalization and resilient and reliable supply chains that is so needed by the international community,” Jaishankar said.

Singapore foreign minister Balakrishnan was more direct in his criticism of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying Moscow’s actions have “upended the international system of rules and norms and international law which we all depend on and operate on the basis of”. He added the “sharpening superpower rivalry between the US and China has direct implications on all of us in Asia”.