Syllabus: GS2/Global Grouping Involving India’s Interests
Context
- The Prime Minister of India, at the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders’ Summit, emphasized that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms are no longer a matter of choice but a global imperative.
- It coincided with the first G20 Summit held in Johannesburg, Africa.
| IBSA Dialogue Forum – It was established in 2003 via the Brasilia Declaration, as a platform for South-South cooperation and a collective voice for the Global South. – It comprises India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA troika), and they reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, democratic values, and inclusive development. – It can act as a bridge between Asia, Africa, and South America. – Key Initiatives include IBSA Trust Fund (operationalised in 2006) to enhance South-South cooperation and IBSAMAR multinational maritime exercise. |
Key Highlights of IBSA Summit (2025)
- Strengthening Security Cooperation: India proposed the institutionalization of an IBSA National Security Advisers (NSA)-level meeting to deepen trilateral security cooperation.
- It stressed the need for close coordination among member nations on terrorism.
- Technology and Human-Centric Development: India announced the proposal for an IBSA Digital Innovation Alliance recognizing technology’s transformative power.
- It aims to facilitate the sharing of digital public infrastructure such as Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Health platforms like CoWIN, Cybersecurity frameworks, and Women-led technology initiatives.
- IBSA Fund for Climate-Resilient Agriculture: India proposed the creation of a Fund for Climate-Resilient Agriculture acknowledging the success of the IBSA Fund, which has supported over 40 development projects across various countries in education, health, women empowerment, and solar energy.
- It seeks to strengthen South-South cooperation and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
- It further encouraged cooperation in millets and natural farming, disaster resilience, green energy, traditional medicine and health security.
- Inviting IBSA Leaders to AI Impact Summit: India invited the IBSA leaders to the AI Impact Summit to be hosted in India next year, emphasizing the grouping’s potential to shape safe, trustworthy, and human-centric AI norms, fostering responsible innovation.
- UNSC Reform: India strongly pitched for reforms in UNSC as felt by many developing nations.
- It fails to represent the growing influence of countries like India, Brazil, and South Africa in global affairs.
| UNSC – It is one of the principal organs of the UN, responsible for maintaining international peace and security. – It was established in 1945 as part of the UN Charter and is composed of 15 member states, including five permanent members (P5) with veto power, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly. – It is headquartered in New York City. |
Why Is UNSC Reform Urgent?
- The UNSC was established in the aftermath of World War II, with five permanent members (P5)—the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China—holding veto power.
- It reflects a geopolitical reality that no longer aligns with the 21st-century world order, and has often been criticized for its lack of inclusivity, transparency, and responsiveness to global crises.
- India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) have consistently advocated for UNSC reform.
- India: It has long argued for a permanent seat on the UNSC with its vast population, growing economy, and active role in peacekeeping.
- It emphasizes the need for the Council to reflect the aspirations of the Global South.
- Brazil: As Latin America’s largest economy and a key regional power, it has pushed for an expansion of the Council’s permanent membership to include more developing countries, advocating for a more democratic and representative UNSC.
- South Africa: It underscores the historical exclusion of the continent from permanent membership and calls for equitable representation, representing Africa’s interests.
- India: It has long argued for a permanent seat on the UNSC with its vast population, growing economy, and active role in peacekeeping.
Key Roadblocks to India’s UNSC Aspirations
- Resistance From P5 Members: Particularly those wary of diluting their influence, especially China, has stalled progress.
- Lack of Consensus Among UN Members: There is no broad consensus on the structure of a reformed UNSC while many countries support India’s bid. Disagreements persist over:
- The number of new permanent members;
- Whether new members should have veto power;
- Regional representation, especially from Africa and Latin America.
- Geopolitical Shifts and Competing Claims: India’s bid is often entangled with those of other aspirants like Brazil, Germany, and Japan (G4 nations).
- The Coffee Club (Uniting for Consensus Group), including countries like Pakistan, Italy, South Korea, and Argentina, opposes the expansion of permanent membership and instead advocates for increasing non-permanent seats.
Way Forward
- The IBSA countries have pledged to intensify their diplomatic efforts, leveraging platforms like the G20, BRICS, and the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to build momentum for reform. Their strategy includes:
- Forging alliances with other developing nations to present a united front.
- Engaging in sustained dialogue with P5 members to find common ground.
- Highlighting the risks of inaction, including the erosion of the UNSC’s credibility and effectiveness.
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