Jaishankar emphasizes India’s role in combating synthetic drug threats at Global Coalition Summit

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted India’s pivotal role in the global fight against the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs during the Summit for the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats held on Tuesday in New York.

Addressing the summit, Jaishankar, who serves as co-chair of Working Group 1, said that India had faced a lot of challenges due to the nexus between terrorist organisations, narco-trafficking and cross-border rackets.

“India’s role as co-chair of Working Group 1, focused on preventing the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs, showcases our proactive stance. India has long been affected by the nexus between terrorist groups and narco-trafficking. Cross-border rackets smuggle drugs into our territory, with proceeds supporting terrorism,” he said in a post on X.

To strengthen its efforts in combating drug-related issues, Jaishankar said that India has signed 45 bilateral agreements and established a regulatory framework for 27 precursor chemicals. He emphasized the growing collaboration between India and the United States, particularly following the recent conclusion of a bilateral Drug Framework and Memorandum of Understanding in Wilmington.

“The deepening partnership between India and the United States must be recognized. Our Counter Narcotics Working Group has convened four times, and the conclusion of the bilateral Drug Framework and MoU in Wilmington is a notable step forward,” Jaishankar said.

He called for increased operational cooperation, intelligence sharing, and enhanced law enforcement collaboration among nations to effectively tackle the synthetic drug trade, a pressing issue affecting multiple countries.

Jaishankar’s remarks came as he joined U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the summit, which took place on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Following the summit, Jaishankar engaged in bilateral talks with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, discussing cooperation in various sectors as well as issues concerning Ukraine and West Asia. He also met with Bolivian Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa Lunda and EU Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra to further enhance diplomatic relations.