International Relations

Jaishankar on Global South’s 4F Crisis

4F Crisis and UN Reform Voice of Global South Summit

October 25, 2026 · 6 min read · GS Paper 2

Why in News?

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke at the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 25 October 2026, The Tribune reported.
He said the Global South faces a 4F crisis of finance, fuel, food and fertiliser, and that the Global North has equal stakes in resolving it.
He called for de-risking the international economy and said the United Nations must show leadership and not be a spectator to global crises.
He said large parts of the world cannot be left out of decision-making.
The remarks came a day after the 81st UN Day on 24 October.

Key Terminologies

4F Crisis: A term used by India for the combined pressure of finance, fuel, food and fertiliser shortages and price shocks on developing countries. Jaishankar used the same framing at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Global South: A loose grouping of developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. India presents itself as a voice for their concerns in global forums.
De-risking: Reducing dependence on a single supplier or route, so that a shock in one place does not disrupt a whole economy. It differs from decoupling, which means cutting economic ties.
Multilateralism: The approach of handling global problems through institutions in which many countries take part, such as the United Nations. India has argued for reform of these institutions so that they reflect present realities.

Key Issues

Compound Shocks: Finance, fuel, food and fertiliser problems feed one another. Jaishankar warned of a major food crisis in the coming months, as The Tribune reported, which would hit import-dependent countries first.
Market Distortions: He said restrictions and choke points are adding to suffering. Export bans and disrupted routes raise prices for poorer buyers.
Exclusion from Decisions: He said large parts of the world cannot be left out of decision-making, a reference to the limited voice of developing countries in the UN Security Council and in financial institutions.
Slow UN Reform: He said the UN needs to shed passivity and carry out long-pending structural reforms. Reform has stalled for decades because members disagree on its form.
Concentration of Technology: He said artificial intelligence should not be in the hands of a few, which raises the risk of a new gap between countries.

Key Implications

Positive/Pros/Merits

Voice for Developing Countries: India's framing of the 4F crisis brings the concerns of food and fuel importers to global forums.
Pressure for Reform: A public call for the UN to show leadership strengthens India's case for Security Council expansion and wider reform.
Diversified Supply Chains: De-risking the international economy offers countries more options without forcing them to choose sides.
Dialogue Approach: Jaishankar urged dialogue and diplomacy on the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, in line with India's position that war is not a solution.

Negative/Cons/Demerits

Limited Leverage: Statements do not by themselves change voting rules in the UN, and reform needs agreement from the permanent members.
Burden on India: India has its own import needs for fuel and fertiliser, so leading on the 4F crisis can stretch its resources.
Divisions in the Global South: Developing countries differ in interests, so a single voice is hard to sustain.
Unclear Mechanisms: The remarks set out concerns, and the reports reviewed do not give new financing or supply measures.

Key Initiatives

Voice of Global South Summit: India has hosted these virtual summits since 2023 to bring developing countries' priorities to the G20 and other forums.
G20 Presidency, 2023: India's presidency used the theme Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and pushed for the African Union to become a permanent G20 member.
Call for UN Reform: India continues to seek expansion of the Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories.
UNGA Remarks, September: Jaishankar described the 4F crisis as one that cannot be left to itself, which the 25 October remarks repeat.
Development Partnerships: India offers lines of credit, grants and capacity building to partner countries, which the Tribune's coverage of his remarks describes as practising Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

Government's Current Approach

The Ministry of External Affairs leads India's outreach to the Global South, and India raises reform at the United Nations. The reports reviewed do not give new commitments announced at the Sammelan.

Director's Perspective

Way Forward

Table a concrete 4F package at the G20 and BRICS, covering fertiliser supply, food stocks and concessional finance.
Build regional food and fertiliser reserves with partners in the Global South.
Keep pressing for a time-bound text on Security Council reform in the UN General Assembly.

Key Takeaway

Jaishankar's remarks tie the economic distress of the Global South to the need for a more inclusive UN. The strengths are the clear framing of the 4F crisis and the call for de-risking, and the weaknesses are the lack of new measures and the slow pace of UN reform. In a Mains answer, credit India for voicing developing countries' concerns, then conclude that influence will depend on concrete supply, finance and reform proposals.

GS Relevance

GS Paper 2: International relations; India's role in global groupings and institutions; reform of the United Nations; effect of policies of developed and developing countries on India's interests. GS Paper 3: Food security and economic effects of global supply shocks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 4F crisis that Jaishankar spoke about?

The 4F crisis refers to the combined problems of finance, fuel, food and fertiliser faced by the Global South. Jaishankar said on 25 October 2026 that the Global North has equal stakes in resolving it, and urged de-risking of the international economy.

What did Jaishankar say about the United Nations?

Jaishankar said the United Nations must show leadership and not be a spectator to global crises. He said it needs to shed passivity and carry out long-pending structural reforms, and that large parts of the world cannot be left out of decision-making.

Where did Jaishankar make these remarks?

He spoke at the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 25 October 2026. The three-day event marked the end of year-long celebrations of 75 years of the Chinmaya Mission and drew more than nine thousand participants.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The 4F crisis refers to finance, fuel, food and fertiliser.

True

Jaishankar used the framing to describe pressure on the Global South.

2 De-risking means cutting all economic ties with a country.

False

It means reducing dependence on a single supplier or route.

3 UN Day is observed on 24 October.

True

The United Nations Charter came into force on that date in 1945.