Kampala, Uganda – Minister of State for External Affairs and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh, is leading the Indian delegation at the 19th Mid-Term Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kampala, Uganda, from October 15-16. Uganda holds the chair of NAM for the 2024-26 term and is hosting this high-level gathering.
The theme of this year's ministerial meeting is "Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence". The meeting aims to reinforce unity among the 121 developing countries that comprise the Non-Aligned Movement. India is a founding member of NAM and remains committed to its principles and values.
Prior to the ministerial meeting, a Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) took place on October 13-14. Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, represented India at the SOM. George held bilateral meetings with heads of delegation from Brunei, Chad, Comoros, Eritrea, Indonesia, Kuwait, Lesotho, Malaysia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Uganda. These discussions focused on strengthening cooperation and shared priorities within the NAM framework.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that Kirti Vardhan Singh is expected to meet with Ugandan leadership and counterparts from other NAM member states to enhance India's engagement with developing nations.
Before arriving in Uganda, Singh attended the Gaza Peace Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. He met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and reaffirmed India's dedication to peace, stability, and enduring security within the Middle East. Singh noted the significant strategic partnership between Egypt and India and underscored the global commitment to peace and dialogue.
The Non-Aligned Movement was founded during the decolonization era and the Cold War. NAM played a key role in the decolonization process, leading to the independence of many countries. Throughout its history, the movement has been crucial in preserving world peace and security. India continues to attach high importance to NAM and actively engages with the movement to strengthen solidarity and cooperation among member states.
