Modi Presses IBSA to Force Global Reform as Leaders Meet
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (November 23) said global institutions have failed to keep pace with contemporary realities and urged India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) to press jointly for structural reform and stronger Global South coordination.
In his opening remarks at the IBSA leaders' meeting, Modi said global institutions do not reflect the realities of the 21st century. He noted that none of the three IBSA nations hold permanent membership on the UN Security Council.
"Institutional reform is not an option but a prerogative," Modi said in his statement. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the G20 leaders summit in Johannesburg.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the three countries must "champion ambitious reform of the global governance institutions" and work as "co-architects of a more representative and responsive multilateral system."
He asserted that IBSA had shown that diversity is a source of strength and described collaboration among equals as indispensable for global peace, prosperity and stability.
Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wrote after the meeting that the IBSA was created as a forum where the three democracies could align sovereignty and autonomy with development and the defence of democracy and human rights. He said this capacity “is in short supply in the world today” and remains the grouping’s main contribution to international affairs.
He added that India, Brazil and South Africa can speak openly about gender equity, reproductive rights, extremism and labour issues in emerging markets. He underlined that the three countries are well placed to be at the forefront of global debates on data governance and artificial intelligence.
Further, Lula noted that the meeting was a “central step to revive our trilateral coordination”.
Ramaphosa said he hoped the three leaders would be able to hold a formal summit soon.
Unlike last year when a joint media statement was issued, there was no document issued after the latest meeting.
Currently, the three countries have faced the ire of the US President Donald Trump at varying degrees. Trump boycotted the G20 summit on false claims of genocide of White Afriakaners.
He has also imposed 50% tariffs on Indian imports, part of which is punishment for buying Russian oil. India and the US are reportedly in final stages of trade negotiations.
The US president has also targeted Brazil with high tariffs as part of efforts to influence its judicial proceedings against former president Jair Bolsanaro. However, Lula has resisted, and Trump has recently exempted several Brazilian goods from tariffs.
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