World order facing growing volatility and uncertainty, Jaishankar tells BRICS Business Forum

NEW DELHI: The global political and economic order is going through a period of profound change, with countries facing growing volatility and uncertainty while simultaneously navigating new opportunities created by technology, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Friday.

Addressing the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi, Jaishankar said geopolitical conflicts, pandemics and climate-related disruptions were producing significant economic consequences across the world.

“We meet at a time when the global political and economic order is under churn,” Jaishankar said. “Volatility, uncertainty and complexity have become defining features of the world around us.”

At the same time, he said rapid digitisation and technological advances were opening new possibilities for growth, productivity and development, fundamentally changing the environment in which governments and businesses operate.

The transformation has created a global economy where both risks and opportunities are increasingly distributed across countries and regions, making resilience and adaptability more important, he said.

“The ability to anticipate, adapt and respond is acquiring greater importance,” Jaishankar added.

His remarks came as political and business leaders gathered for the BRICS Business Forum, held as part of the BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

The forum is focused on strengthening economic engagement among BRICS economies at a time when geopolitical tensions, changing trade patterns and technological disruption are reshaping global commerce.