At the IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that reforms to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) are no longer optional but an absolute necessity. Addressing the summit, which included South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Modi emphasized the need for the IBSA troika to project a unified message advocating for changes to global governance institutions.
Modi highlighted that the current structure of global governance does not reflect the realities of the 21st century. He stressed that IBSA, representing three continents, major democracies, and significant economies, can offer a message of unity, cooperation, and humanity in a world that often appears fragmented. He noted the timely nature of the meeting, coinciding with the first G20 Summit on African soil and following four consecutive G20 presidencies held by Global South nations, three of which were led by IBSA members. This, he said, has helped advance discussions on human-centric development, sustainable growth, and multilateral reform.
The Prime Minister also proposed strengthening security cooperation among IBSA nations by institutionalizing NSA-level dialogues. Modi asserted that there should be no double standards in the fight against terrorism and that united action is necessary for global peace and prosperity.
Recognizing the pivotal role of technology in human-centric development, Modi suggested establishing an 'IBSA Digital Innovation Alliance'. This alliance would facilitate the sharing of digital public infrastructure like UPI, CoWIN, cybersecurity frameworks, and women-led tech initiatives. He suggested launching this initiative at the AI Impact Summit in India next year and added that IBSA could play a crucial role in shaping global norms for safe and trustworthy AI.
Furthermore, Modi lauded the IBSA Fund's contribution to projects across 40 countries in sectors like education, health, women's empowerment, and solar energy. To further strengthen South-South cooperation, he proposed the creation of an IBSA Fund for Climate Resilient Agriculture. He also pointed out opportunities for collaboration in areas such as millets, natural farming, green energy, disaster resilience, traditional medicine, and health security, emphasizing that IBSA nations can complement each other's development pathways and demonstrate models for sustainable growth.
In a social media post, Modi reiterated IBSA's commitment to amplifying the voice and aspirations of the Global South, emphasizing its unique bond characterized by diversity, shared values, and shared aspirations. He highlighted the significant role the three IBSA nations have played in furthering the human-centric agenda through their G20 presidencies.
