New York, Jan 9 (PTI) – The US Department of State has detailed how American security agencies faced a “mission-defining challenge” during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to New York in November, when a government shutdown grounded thousands of flights, forcing officials to execute an unprecedented contingency plan to ensure his safety and timely arrival.
An article dated December 30, 2025, authored by Supervisory Special Agent Gabriel Macias, said the shutdown severely disrupted commercial air travel across the US just as Jaishankar was scheduled for critical diplomatic engagements in New York. At the time, Jaishankar was travelling from Canada, where he attended the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on November 11–12, before heading to New York for a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the United Nations headquarters.
“The successful execution of the mission ensured the foreign minister’s diplomatic agenda proceeded without disruption, advancing strategic US foreign policy interests fully aligned with the administration’s ‘America First’ policy priorities,” the article said.
“It also reflected the ethos emphasised by incoming DS leadership: disciplined execution, mission focus, technical proficiency, and unwavering readiness in support of American diplomacy.”
With nationwide flight cancellations threatening to derail the visit, the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) devised what the article described as a “bold contingency plan,” involving a seven-hour, 416-mile interstate motorcade from the Lewiston–Queenston Bridge in Niagara, upstate New York, to Manhattan.
To carry out the operation, 27 DSS agents were deployed from the Dignitary Protection Division, New York Field Office, and Buffalo Resident Office, forming a rare long-distance protective convoy. Agents coordinated closely with officials from India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which had provided security to Jaishankar in Canada, and US Customs and Border Protection to ensure a smooth handover at the international border.
The article said agents meticulously planned routes across upstate New York, implemented structured driver rotations to manage fatigue, and ensured uninterrupted protection while maintaining the minister’s comfort throughout the journey.
“Despite freezing temperatures, limited visibility, and shutdown-related constraints, DSS agents executed with calm professionalism and unwavering focus,” it noted.
During the operation, a K9 unit alerted on the foreign minister’s armoured vehicle, prompting agents to immediately secure the area and coordinate with local explosive ordnance disposal teams. Following a detailed inspection, the vehicle was cleared, an incident the article said demonstrated the team’s composure and strict adherence to DSS security protocols under pressure.
Category: Breaking News
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