Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a powerful message of global unity and cooperation during the India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum (IBSA) leaders' meeting held on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg on Sunday. The meeting brought together three major democracies from different continents at a crucial geopolitical moment.
Unity Message Amid Global Fragmentation
Addressing Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the IBSA grouping can project a strong message of "unity, cooperation and humanity" when the world appears increasingly divided. He described the meeting as both "historic and timely", coming at the conclusion of four consecutive G20 presidencies held by Global South countries.
"IBSA is not just a group of three countries; it connects three continents, three major democracies and three major economies," the Prime Minister stated, highlighting the unique positioning of the trilateral forum. He noted that the three IBSA nations have held the G20 presidency over the past three years, enabling them to drive initiatives focused on human-centric development, multilateral reform, and sustainable growth.
Strong Stand Against Terrorism
In one of the most significant portions of his address, Prime Minister Modi took a firm stance against international terrorism, declaring that "there is no place for any double standards on such a serious issue." He called for united action against terrorism to ensure global peace and prosperity.
To strengthen cooperation in this critical area, Modi proposed institutionalizing the National Security Advisers-level dialogue between India, Brazil, and South Africa. This move would create a permanent framework for security coordination and intelligence sharing among the three nations.
Pushing for United Nations Reforms
The Prime Minister made a compelling case for United Nations Security Council reforms, pointing out that current global institutions "do not represent today's world." He highlighted the significant fact that none of the IBSA countries holds a permanent seat on the UNSC, despite their substantial global influence and democratic credentials.
"Institutional reform is no longer an option, but a necessity," Modi asserted, emphasizing the urgent need for the international governance structure to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities rather than post-World War II power dynamics.
Ambitious Proposals for Cooperation
Prime Minister Modi put forward several concrete initiatives to deepen cooperation among IBSA nations. He proposed establishing an IBSA Fund for Climate Resilient Agriculture to address food security challenges exacerbated by climate change. This fund would support agricultural innovation and sustainability projects across member countries.
Another major proposal was the creation of a Digital Innovation Alliance that would facilitate the sharing of digital public infrastructure. This initiative would enable the transfer of successful digital solutions like India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI), health platforms such as CoWIN, cybersecurity frameworks, and women-led technology initiatives.
Modi suggested that the second phase of these digital initiatives could be launched at the AI Impact Summit scheduled to be held in India next year, creating a platform for broader international collaboration in artificial intelligence.
Bilateral Engagement with South Africa
In a separate bilateral meeting with President Ramaphosa, Prime Minister Modi reviewed the comprehensive relationship between India and South Africa. The leaders explored opportunities to enhance cooperation in emerging areas including artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, and critical minerals.
Both leaders welcomed the growing presence of Indian companies in South Africa and agreed to facilitate mutual investments, particularly in infrastructure, technology, innovation, mining, and startup sectors. The Prime Minister also thanked President Ramaphosa for South Africa's cooperation in the relocation of cheetahs and extended an invitation to join the International Big Cat Alliance led by India.
The leaders committed to working together to "amplify the voice of the Global South" in international forums. President Ramaphosa assured India of South Africa's full support for its upcoming Chairship of BRICS in 2026, signaling continued close coordination between the two nations.
IBSA Fund's Track Record
Prime Minister Modi highlighted the successful track record of the existing IBSA Fund, which has completed approximately fifty development projects across forty countries in sectors including education, health, women's empowerment, and solar energy. The proposed Climate Resilient Agriculture Fund would build upon this established mechanism of South-South cooperation.
The IBSA meeting represented a significant moment of alignment between three major democratic economies from the Global South, coming together to address common challenges and opportunities in an increasingly complex international landscape.
