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The third edition of India's “Voice of the Global South Summit” on August 17, 2024, underscored the growing importance of a united Global South voice in navigating pressing global challenges. The virtual summit, attended by 123 countries, highlighted the disproportionate impact of geopolitical uncertainty, economic crises, and ongoing conflicts on the Global South, despite these countries having no role in creating these crises. Prime Minister Modi, in his opening remarks, voiced serious concern over these issues, emphasizing the theme of the summit: “An empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future.”
India's leadership in organizing the summit reflects its commitment to fostering solidarity and unity within the Global South. This commitment was evident in India's efforts to champion the Global South's interests at the Delhi G20 summit. Further demonstrating India's focus on the Global South, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Ukraine in the third week of August to meet with President Zelensky. This visit presents an opportunity for India to convey its concerns regarding the Ukraine conflict's negative impact on the Global South's growth and sustainability prospects, seeking an end to the war through diplomatic means.
The summit extensively discussed the need for reformed multilateralism and the urgency of global institutional reform. The UN's September 22/23 “Summit of the Future” presents a crucial platform for Prime Minister Modi to advocate for a more representative and effective United Nations. He is expected to stress the need for the UN Security Council to reflect contemporary realities, including representation from Africa and a rightful place for India. The summit also recognized the critical importance of climate finance and accessible technology for achieving a sustainable future for the Global South. The upcoming COP in Azerbaijan in November presents an opportunity for Global South countries to unite in their demands for climate action, particularly from major carbon emitters.
The Voice of the Global South Summit also addressed the challenges of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The summit highlighted the need for a stocktaking exercise to address the implications of leaving a large part of the world behind on SDG progress. The upcoming G20 summit in Rio, Brazil, in November provides a platform for the Global South to amplify its voice on these critical issues. India, with its leadership role in the Global South, can advocate for its member countries and ensure their concerns are heard within the G20. Furthermore, India's commitment to bridging the digital divide through Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is evident in its pledge to contribute USD 25 million to a Social Impact Fund aimed at accelerating DPI progress in the Global South.
The summit concluded with Prime Minister Modi's proposal for a “Global Development Compact.” While details are still being developed, the Compact's foundation will draw from India's own development journey and experiences in development partnerships. Importantly, the Compact will be guided by the development priorities of the Global South countries themselves. This proposed Compact exemplifies South-South cooperation and India's commitment to the principle of “Vasudaiva Kutumbakam,” or the World is one family. The Voice of the Global South Summit served as a platform for a unified Global South to articulate its concerns, priorities, and aspirations on the world stage, demonstrating the critical need for a shared global vision to address pressing global challenges.
Source: Authentic voice of global south