External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar made headlines for an unusual seven-hour, 670-km road journey across upstate New York during his visit to the United States last year. The trip, organised by the US Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), became necessary because a US government shutdown grounded commercial flights nationwide, leaving no air travel options at a time when Jaishankar was scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres in New York. With his diplomatic schedule fixed and no flight alternatives, the road journey ensured he arrived on time for the high-level bilateral meeting at the United Nations.

Security officials received Jaishankar at the Lewiston–Queenston Bridge on the US–Canada border after he attended the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Canada. From there, a carefully planned motorcade of 27 agents transported him through winter conditions, rotating drivers and navigating long stretches of upstate terrain to maintain safety and schedule.

The unconventional journey highlighted the adaptability and logistical planning of diplomatic security teams under pressure. Despite freezing temperatures, limited visibility and shutdown-related operational challenges, the delegation’s disciplined execution ensured the minister’s meeting at the United Nations proceeded without disruption, underscoring the priority given to maintaining critical diplomatic engagements even amid unexpected constraints.