In his valedictory address at the Silver Jubilee celebration of the Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA), External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar outlined six key issues that Indian diplomacy will face in the coming times: the consequences of India’s rapid growth; the international flow of talent and skills; communication and narrative building in the era of AI; the role of culture, history and experience in international relations; India’s emergence as a “multi-millennia civilization” regaining its place on the global stage; and its independent stance and commitment to strategic autonomy and multipolarity. He placed these issues against a “radically transformed global landscape” marked by supply-chain vulnerabilities, tariff volatility, technological rivalry, changing energy dynamics, financial weaponisation, and competition over connectivity. For India, he emphasised de-risking and diversification, self-reliance, trusted partnerships and new diplomatic concepts and initiatives. He also highlighted ICWA’s role as a forum for debate and as a meeting point for the think tank, academic, diplomatic and policy communities.