Jaishankar flags global uncertainty at BRICS forum: 'Political and economic order under churn'

Speaking at the BRICS Business Forum, Jaishankar said geopolitical conflicts, pandemics and climate-related disruptions were having economic consequences. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday flagged growing uncertainty in the global political and economic order, saying volatility and complexity had become defining features of the world.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar speaks during the opening ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum 2026, in New Delhi, Friday, Sept. 11. (PTI)Speaking at the BRICS Business Forum, Jaishankar said geopolitical conflicts, pandemics and climate-related disruptions were having economic consequences, while rapid digitisation and technological advances were creating new opportunities for growth, productivity and development.Follow BRICS Summit LIVE updates here."We meet at a time when global political and economic order is under churn. Volatility, uncertainty, and complexity have become defining features of the world around us. We are witnessing the economic consequences of geopolitical conflicts, of pandemics, and of climate-related disruptions," he said.He also said rapid digitisation and technological advances are opening up new possibilities for growth, productivity and development. “The result is an economic landscape where both risks and opportunities are becoming more widely distributed and where the ability to anticipate, adapt and respond is acquiring greater importance,” he added.Deep DiveBRICS Summit on Sept 12-13New Delhi is all set to host the BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13, with several world leaders and senior delegations arriving in the national capital from late Thursday evening through early Friday morning.Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Friday, marking the beginning of a three-day visit to India to participate in the BRICS Summit and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss expanding bilateral trade, investment and energy cooperation.Also Read: Tharoor breaks ranks with Chidambaram, backs BRICS Summit as ‘diplomatic power move’Putin is accompanied by a high-level delegation. His visit marks his first in-person participation at a BRICS summit outside Russia since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022.Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira also arrived in New Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit. The Ministry of External Affairs announced Vieira's arrival, saying he is representing Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the summit, as Lula remains in Brazil for his election campaign.Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung are among the top leaders attending the summit.Delhi Police has put in place a multi-layered security for the upcoming BRICS Summit, with around 15,000 personnel and 200 companies of paramilitary forces to be deployed across the national capital, a senior police officer said on Thursday.The police have also installed more than 500 CCTV cameras, including high-resolution and specialised surveillance cameras, to keep a round-the-clock watch over key areas.Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. 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