IBSA as a Bridge Across Three Continents
Addressing President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, PM Modi described IBSA as a partnership that transcends geographical boundaries and political identities. He noted that the grouping unites three major democracies from Asia, Africa, and South America, creating a collective voice for fairness and equality in global governance.
The meeting took place during a pivotal moment, marking the first G20 Summit hosted on African soil. PM Modi highlighted that the past four G20 Presidencies Indonesia, India, Brazil, and South Africa represent a remarkable era of Global South leadership. According to him, IBSA’s role in this period “demonstrates the collective strength and shared vision of emerging democracies.”
PM Modi minced no words on the need for restructuring global institutions. Emphasizing that none of the IBSA nations are permanent members of the UN Security Council, he said this exclusion reflects outdated frameworks incapable of representing 21st-century realities.
He insisted that IBSA must send a “clear and unified message” on the urgency of multilateral reform and reiterated India’s long-standing concerns regarding double standards on global terrorism. PM Modi called for stronger coordination among IBSA nations to ensure “decisive, united action against terrorism in all its forms.”
India had hosted the first IBSA National Security Advisers’ Meeting in 2021. PM Modi proposed making this mechanism permanent to reinforce security cooperation.
Digital Public Infrastructure and AI: A Shared Mission
Highlighting India’s global leadership in technology-driven governance, PM Modi proposed creating an “IBSA Digital Innovation Alliance.” The platform would enable the sharing of successful Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) models across the trio such as UPI, CoWIN, cybersecurity frameworks, and women-led digital entrepreneurship systems.
The initiative, he said, could help the Global South scale secure, accessible digital services and strengthen cooperation on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. He also suggested launching a joint effort on safe, human-centric AI norms at the upcoming AI Impact Summit in India.
Climate-Resilient Agriculture and Sustainable Development
PM Modi highlighted that IBSA has achieved tangible results through the IBSA Fund, which has supported nearly 50 community-focused projects across 40 nations. These initiatives span education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, renewable energy, and digital capacity building.
To amplify this impact, he proposed establishing an “IBSA Fund for Climate-Resilient Agriculture,” encouraging joint projects that blend traditional knowledge with modern innovation. He stressed cooperation in promoting millets, natural farming, disaster resilience, green energy, and traditional medicine.
He added that this cooperative spirit can set an example for the world, especially at a time when geopolitical tensions are fragmenting global consensus.
A Message of Unity Amid Global Division
In his concluding remarks, PM Modi stated that today’s deeply divided world needs new models of cooperation rooted in democracy, inclusivity, and sustainability—values that IBSA embodies. He said the trio must continue offering a message of “unity, cooperation, and humanity.”