Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently took part in the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders’ Meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, underlining the growing importance of IBSA as a platform for South-South cooperation and global governance reform.
About India–Brazil–South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum:
The India–Brazil–South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum is a trilateral grouping of three multi-ethnic democracies from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
· Established in 2003, IBSA aims to advance South–South cooperation, democratic global governance, and development partnerships.
Key Themes & Proposals by India during meeting:
1. Global Governance Reform
o Called for urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying that global governance institutions are “far removed from 21st-century realities” and that such reform is “not an option, but an imperative.”
o India proposed institutionalising a National Security Advisers (NSA)-level dialogue among IBSA members to deepen security cooperation.
2. Unified Push Against Terrorism
o Emphasising the gravity of the terror threat, Modi stressed that there should be “no room for double standards” in combating terrorism.
o India urged the three IBSA nations to coordinate more closely on counter-terrorism efforts.
3. Digital Innovation Alliance
o India proposed establishing an IBSA Digital Innovation Alliance for sharing digital public infrastructure.
o Key areas of cooperation would include UPI, health platforms like CoWIN, cybersecurity frameworks, and women-led tech initiatives.
o India invited IBSA leaders to the upcoming AI Impact Summit in India to launch this initiative.
4. Climate-Resilient Agriculture Fund
o India suggested setting up an IBSA Fund for Climate-Resilient Agriculture to bolster South-South cooperation in sustainable agriculture.
Strategic Implications:
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- Amplifying the Global South’s Voice: Modi framed IBSA as a bridge across three continents — Asia, Africa, and Latin America — and as a vehicle for pushing reform in global institutions.
- Strengthening Security Cooperation: Institutionalising NSA-level talks could deepen trust and coordination on counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, and regional security.
- Development Innovation: The proposed digital alliance and climate fund demonstrate IBSA’s shift from conventional development aid to more future-oriented cooperation: technology, sustainability, and digital public goods.
- Legitimacy in Multilateral Fora: With three consecutive G20 presidencies by Global South countries (including IBSA members), the timing of this meeting is strategically significant.
- Amplifying the Global South’s Voice: Modi framed IBSA as a bridge across three continents — Asia, Africa, and Latin America — and as a vehicle for pushing reform in global institutions.
Conclusion:
The 2025 IBSA meeting in Johannesburg marks an important moment in trilateral cooperation. India's call for unity against terrorism, urgent UNSC reform, and new collaborations in digital infrastructure and climate-resilient agriculture demonstrates India’s vision of IBSA as a dynamic, democratic, and developmental coalition. At a time of global fragmentation, IBSA’s commitment to multilateralism, inclusivity, and South–South solidarity positions it as a crucial platform for shaping a fairer and more representative world order.
