Shutdown Drive for S Jaishankar

US security team drove Indian minister 416 miles to ensure UN meeting

January 9, 2026: US security officials drove External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar more than 416 miles during a government shutdown in September after commercial flights across the country were grounded, according to a State Department report released this week. The overnight road journey ensured that Jaishankar reached New York in time for his scheduled meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The report, authored by the US Diplomatic Security Service on December 30 and made public on January 8, detailed how agents received the minister at the Lewiston–Queenston Bridge on the US-Canada border and undertook a seven-hour drive to Manhattan. A total of 27 agents from the Dignitary Protection Division and field offices in New York and Buffalo were involved, coordinating with India’s UN mission, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and US border authorities. The motorcade passed through upstate New York amid freezing temperatures, with drivers rotated to manage long hours and poor visibility.

During the operation, an explosive detection dog briefly alerted to Jaishankar’s armored vehicle at a handover point, prompting agents to secure the area before clearing the vehicle. After reaching New York City, one security agent also assisted a woman injured in a hit-and-run accident while others coordinated with local emergency services. US officials said the complex operation ensured the minister’s UN engagement proceeded smoothly despite the nationwide shutdown.