New York: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has cautioned that developing nations are facing an acute “4F crisis” involving fuel, food, fertilizer and finance, as geopolitical conflicts, supply disruptions, climate shocks and financial pressures weigh on vulnerable economies.

Speaking during high-level engagements in New York, including statements at the UN General Assembly and an event hosted by the Asia Society, Jaishankar said the global community is witnessing the “weaponisation of everything”, with financial systems, supply chains and market access increasingly being used as leverage.

He said these developments are placing immense pressure on developing and vulnerable economies.

Conflicts disrupt critical trade routes

Ongoing conflicts, particularly the Ukraine war and tensions in the Iran-Gulf region, have disrupted critical trade routes and production. Blocked or restricted corridors in the Black Sea region continue to impede vital grain exports from reaching international markets.

Fertilizer shortages threaten crop yields

Key agricultural input producers, including Russia and various Middle Eastern nations, have experienced production and supply disruptions. This has contributed to significant global fertilizer shortages and sharply higher costs, directly threatening crop yields worldwide.

El Niño adds to food supply risks

Geopolitical pressures are being compounded by severe climatic patterns, including a powerful El Niño weather event. Such climate phenomena threaten agricultural production cycles across major regions, further increasing risks to global food availability.

Financial pressure on developing economies

Heightened geopolitical instability also drives capital towards perceived safe-haven markets, draining liquidity from developing and vulnerable economies and straining their ability to manage import costs.

Jaishankar calls for de-risking and diversification

Jaishankar urged international policymakers to look beyond immediate domestic boundaries and take into account the wider global impact of their decisions.

He called for strong multilateral guardrails and stressed the need for supply chain de-risking, diversification and greater cooperation among like-minded nations to prevent widespread food insecurity and economic destabilization.