India’s Realignment With The Global South At Unga

During the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized India’s stronger engagement with the Global South.

India’s Engagement at UNGA 2025

  • EAM Jaishankar held ~30 bilateral meetings, more than half with developing nations.
  • India participated in multiple Global South groupings: BRICS, IBSA, India–CELAC, India–SICA, FIPIC, L-69, C-10, and the Like-Minded Global South group.
  • These meetings discussed trade barriers, energy security, conflicts, and UN reforms.

Position on Gaza

  • India backed statements by BRICS and IBSA condemning Israel’s continued attacks on Gaza.
  • Shift from earlier neutral stance to stronger humanitarian alignment with Global South.

Trade and Tariff Issues

  • U.S. imposed 50–100% tariffs on Indian goods and pharma products, causing strain in bilateral trade talks.
  • India criticized non-market trade practices and tariff volatility affecting developing economies.

Focus on Global South

  • India reiterated its role as a “leading voice of the Global South”, raising issues like:
    • Energy and food security
    • Climate finance
    • Fair market access
    • Reforms in global institutions

Call for UN Reforms

  • India’s priority paper highlighted the stalled UN Security Council reform, urging faster progress for equitable representation.

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY (UNGA)

Overview

  • Founded: 1945 (under the UN Charter)
  • Members: 193 countries (including India – a founding member)
  • Meetings: Annual session in September (New York)
  • Decision-making: Each member has one vote; resolutions are non-binding but carry political weight.

Functions

  • Discusses global peace, security, development, human rights
  • Approves UN budget, elects non-permanent UNSC members
  • Provides a platform for multilateral diplomacy and consensus building

India’s Role

  • Active since 1945; advocates for:
    • Reformed multilateralism
    • Voice of developing nations
    • Peacekeeping contributions
    • Climate action and SDGs

UNGA and Multilateralism

  • Promotes collective decision-making and global cooperation.
  • India uses UNGA to highlight issues of Global South, equity, and reform.
  • Serves as a platform to balance North-South divide.

Conclusion

India’s approach at UNGA 2025 shows a strategic realignment with developing nations, reaffirming its leadership role in the Global South and push for a fairer global order through reformed multilateralism.

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