UN@80: India's Leadership For Global South

Eighty years henceforth, the UN has not only failed to stop wars in various geographies, but also failed to meet the aspirations of its own members, many of whom are today middle powers and aspiring powers and no longer aid recipients. Yet the UN remains devoid of reality, with the body being run by a select few for all practical purposes, and voiceless remain voiceless as they were a few decades back.

India Needs To Emerge As A Global Leader

The silver lining in this situation is the Indian story and its presence on the world stage. India is not only an emerging power but a pole in itself. With the Global North largely oblivious of the needs of the Global South, it is an opportune time for India to step in as the rightful leader of the developing nations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s voice at the Global South summit has raised huge expectations, and it is time to walk the talk.

China's Motivation

While China with its money power has been able to make inroads across geographies, however, Beijing’s motivation is anything but benign. Eyeing natural resources and connectivity routes it has focused on creating infrastructure which is nothing but a White elephant.

Loans for infrastructure projects have been extended at market rates often pushing countries into debt trap. This then forces the recipient of Chinese debt to transfer key assets to Beijing like ports in the Indian Ocean Region.

These dual-use ports may be utilised by China for strategic purposes and help expand China’s maritime outreach. Beijing’s maritime outreach particularly in the Indian Ocean Region has a direct impact on India’s role as the net security provider in the region.

China has long desired to be a leader of developing countries. However, debt trap and its hidden agenda are now increasingly forcing countries of the Global South to seek guidance and support from India.

How India Can Help

Developed nations have also failed the Global South and its support comes with conditions. While India neither possesses deep pockets of China nor technological achievements of the Global North developed over centuries, India can provide solutions to the Global South many of which face challenges which India faced in the past.

From digital public infrastructure to mobile banking to healthcare to renewables, India has the skills to provide tailor made solutions to the developing countries. Simultaneously, the Global South provides Indian exporters the markets that Trump’s tariffs have threatened to shut in the US.

This can be a win-win situation as India’s small and medium enterprises, the backbone of the Indian economy, can share its experience with the developing nations while getting required markets for its goods.

India’s low-cost solutions and Startup boom is a model that can be replicated across the Global South. Indian companies can add value to the resource rich countries of the nations in Africa, Latin America and Central Asia raising India’s profile and presence. Simultaneously, India’s much famed IT sector has a plethora of opportunities across the developing nations.

Claiming Leadership  

Building on this goodwill as a power with benign interests, India is suitably positioned to lead the Global South at the United Nations and other multilateral fora where these nations are searching for a leader to chart a part independent of China and the developed nations.

The UN in particular has an outdated structure where voices of the voiceless and smaller countries are often sidelined. UN Security Council reforms are more necessary than ever.

Expanding the Council to include India besides Brazil and representatives from Africa would make the UN truly representational. After all, each country has one vote at the UN General Assembly and the rights of all are equally important.

India needs to play at the front foot and wear the hat of leader at the UN which still remains the world’s most representative body. Pushing for reforms and batting for priorities of the Global South at the UN will strengthen India’s position and send a message to the Global North of the power of developing countries.        

(Writer is commentator on geo-politics. Views are personal.)