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EYE ON INDIA OCTOBER 02, 2026 | The Indian Eye 8

India, Brazil and South Africa Push for

a More Representative Global Order

At the UN General Assembly, India, Brazil and South Africa are pushing for

changes to global institutions, arguing that the emerging world order requires greater

representation for developing economies

OUR BUREAU universal and meaningful connectiv-
ity and greater deployment of digital
Washington, DC / New Delhi
infrastructure, while recognising the
he growing frustration with potential of artificial intelligence to
the slow pace of reform at the contribute to economic growth and
TUnited Nations is becoming sustainable development.
increasingly difficult to ignore. At the For developing countries, access
81st session of the UN General As- to technology is increasingly connect-
sembly in New York, India has once ed to questions of economic competi-
again placed the question of institu- tiveness. Digital infrastructure and AI
tional reform at the centre of its dip- could influence productivity, employ-
lomatic engagement, arguing that the ment, education and public services,
global system cannot remain frozen but unequal access could also widen
while the balance of economic and existing development gaps.
political power continues to change. Climate and energy transition
External Affairs Minister S Jais- were similarly prominent in the IBSA
hankar, speaking at a ministerial discussions. India, Brazil and South
session on “Ruptures & Ramparts: Africa backed greater renewable-en-
Building Bridges for a Changing ergy capacity in the Global South,
World”, said the growing demand for improvements in energy efficiency
change reflected a deeper concern and wider deployment of sustainable
about the credibility and effectiveness fuels, including biofuels, biogases and
of international institutions. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar participates in the IBSA Foreign Ministers’ Meeting low-emission hydrogen.
His argument was direct: reform with the South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola and Brazil Foreign Minister Mauro The IBSA ministers also high-
cannot remain trapped in procedural lighted women’s empowerment and
discussions. “If we are serious about Vieira on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81), in New York the need to remove social and eco-
reform, we need some text-based ne- on Thursday (@DrSJaishankar X/ANI Photo) nomic barriers facing women and
gotiation because you can’t have a ne- girls, adding another dimension to
gotiation without a text,” Jaishankar called for comprehensive reform of cern for countries of the Global South. their broader development agenda.
said, warning that without substantive the UN Security Council, seeking a Decisions taken in major geopolitical Jaishankar’s wider UNGA sched-
negotiations, the process risks becom- system that is more democratic, rep- conflicts can influence energy prices, ule reflected India’s effort to engage
ing a means of simply gaining time. resentative and reflective of contem- food supplies, trade routes and public simultaneously with major powers,
For India, the issue is not about porary realities. finances in countries that have little neighbouring countries and develop-
weakening the United Nations but The IBSA position is important role in determining those conflicts. ing nations. His meetings included
making it more representative of because India, Brazil and South Afri- IBSA therefore also called for leaders and foreign ministers from
contemporary realities. Jaishankar ca represent three major developing balanced, fair and mutually benefi- Antigua and Barbuda, Egypt, Jordan,
argued that those who genuinely economies from Asia, Latin Amer- cial trade arrangements. The objec- the United Kingdom, Tajikistan, Aus-
care about the UN should support ica and Africa. Their cooperation tive, according to the joint statement, tralia, Uruguay, the Maldives, Ghana,
its reform, describing the organisa- provides a platform through which is to promote equitable growth, in- Singapore and Estonia.
tion as being “behind the curve” in concerns shared by large parts of the clusive development and greater eco- The discussions covered bilateral
relation to the world it is expected Global South can be articulated col- nomic resilience. relations, regional conflicts, develop-
to represent. lectively. The demand for greater repre- ment partnerships, climate cooper-
The message acquires greater sig- The countries also highlighted sentation extends beyond the Security ation, food and energy security and
nificance as developing countries in- the economic consequences of con- Council. India, Brazil and South Af- multilateral cooperation.
creasingly seek a stronger voice in de- flicts. Energy and food insecurity, rica also backed continued reform of This broad diplomatic engage-
cisions affecting global security, trade, inflation and fiscal pressures are in- global economic governance so that ment reflects the increasingly inter-
technology, climate and finance. creasingly affecting developing econ- developing and emerging economies connected nature of India’s foreign
India, Brazil and South Africa omies, demonstrating how geopoliti- can participate more effectively in in- policy. New Delhi is simultaneously
provided a broader Global South per- cal conflicts far beyond their borders ternational decision-making. seeking stronger relationships with
spective through the IBSA Foreign can have direct consequences for Technology is emerging as an- major powers while working with de-
Ministers’ Meeting on the sidelines their populations. other important part of this conver- veloping countries to reshape multi-
of the UNGA. The three countries This has become a central con- sation. The three countries called for lateral institutions.

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