New York/New Delhi, Sep 24 (UNI) Emphasising that the very concept of multilateralism is under attack, and that the very building blocks of the contemporary world order are coming apart, leaving the Global South countries high and dry, India hosted a high-level meeting of Like-Minded Global South Countries in New York, on the sidelines of the UNGA.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, addressing the meeting on Tuesday, proposed several steps to bring more cohesiveness among the countries of the
Global South nations.
Lambasting the state of world affairs, in which the Global South and its needs have been ignored, the EAM said, that the meeting comes amid an uncertain geopolitical situation when the state of the world is a cause for mounting concern for member states.
The Global South in particular, is confronted with a set of challenges which have heightened in the first half of this decade. These, he said, include the shocks of the Covid pandemic, two major conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, extreme climate events, volatility in trade, uncertainty in investment flows and interest rates, and the catastrophic slowing down of the SDG agenda.
“Most of all, the rights and expectations of developing countries in the international system – which has been so assiduously developed over many many decades – are today under challenge,” he added.
“In face of such proliferation of concerns and multiplicity of risks, it is natural that the Global South would turn to multilateralism for solutions. Unfortunately, there too we are presented with a very disappointing prospect.
“The very concept of multilateralism is under attack. International organizations are being rendered ineffective or starved of resources. The building blocks of the contemporary order are starting to come apart. And the cost of delaying much needed reforms is today starkly visible,” the EAM said.
Stressing on the need for a united and like-minded approach of the Global South, he outlined the concepts they aim for in the global world order: “Fair and transparent economic practices that democratize production and enhance economic security; A stable environment for balanced and sustainable economic interactions, including more South-South trade, investment and technology collaborations; resilient, reliable and shorter supply chains that would reduce dependence on any single supplier or any single market; An urgent resolution of conflicts that are impacting food, fertilizer and energy security; The protection of global commons, including addressing maritime shipping concerns, HADR situations, environmental challenges; A collaborative leveraging of technology for development, especially creation of a digital public infrastructure; and a fair and level playing field in different domains that do justice to the developmental concerns of the Global South.
On behalf of India, he made a few suggestions to achieve the objectives: To utilize the existing forums to strengthen consultations among Global South with a view to enhance solidarity and encourage collaboration; bring to the table specific strengths, experiences and achievements which can benefit fellow Global South members, like vaccine production, digital capabilities, education capacities, agro-practices and SME culture; in areas like climate action and climate justice, come up with initiatives that serve the Global South rather than justify the Global North; Discuss the potential of technologies like AI; and push for reform the United Nations and multilateralism as a whole.
Rights and expectations of developing countries are under challenge: EAM Jaishankar at Global South conference
