External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar Highlights Global Energy Disruptions at G20 Meeting

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar strongly criticized disruptions in global oil supplies driven by sanctions and chokepoints during the first plenary session of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Atlanta on Friday, October 30, 2026. Convened by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the meeting addressed pressing international economic and energy concerns.

Jaishankar stated that deliberate attacks on energy trade and infrastructure represent a calculated strategy designed to hold energy prices hostage. He noted that the current global energy crisis is characterized not by a lack of production, but by unpredictability, disruption, unaffordable costs, and challenges regarding access.

Highlighting the frequency and complexity of these disruptions, the minister pointed out that continuous distortions are occurring through obstacles, sanctions, and chokepoints with a wider impact. He underscored that these actions show little regard for the predicament faced by low-income countries.

During his address, Jaishankar criticized the selective nature of policy enforcement, noting that convenient distinctions are being drawn between oil and gas, and that selective carve-outs speak for themselves. He reiterated that the mutual dependence and knock-on effects within a globalized market should not be underestimated.

Addressing national priorities, Jaishankar reaffirmed India's requirement for reliable and predictable LPG supplies to support its clean cooking initiatives. He also outlined India's National Mission on critical minerals, which spans from exploration to recycling, and mentioned that India has proposed a G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative.

To address broader challenges, the minister emphasized that the G20 must demonstrate both understanding and leadership to maintain open and predictable energy markets. He concluded that the group must also widen access to finance while advancing storage technologies, small modular reactors, green hydrogen, and biofuels.

"External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's remarks at the G20 meeting highlight the vulnerability of global supply chains and energy markets to geopolitical sanctions and infrastructure disruptions. For businesses, particularly in emerging markets like India, navigating price volatility and ensuring secure access to energy and critical minerals are paramount for long-term operational stability and sustainable growth." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes