External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday, while addressing the High-Level Meeting of Like-Minded Global South Countries, said that the rights and expectations of developing nations are under growing challenge amid global uncertainties.
Jaishankar noted that the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, extreme climate events, trade volatility, and slowing progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have created mounting pressures for the Global South. “The rights and expectations of developing countries in the international system, meticulously built over decades, are today under challenge,” he said.
Pointing to limitations in multilateralism, Jaishankar highlighted that international organizations are often under-resourced and ineffective. “The very concept of multilateralism is under attack. The building blocks of the contemporary order are starting to come apart, and the cost of delaying much-needed reforms is starkly visible,” he added.
He called for a united approach among Global South countries, promoting fair economic practices, stronger trade and investment ties, resilient supply chains, and collaborative use of technology. Jaishankar also urged the resolution of conflicts affecting food, fertilizer, and energy security, and stressed the need for climate action and AI governance aligned with developing nations’ priorities.
Jaishankar proposed practical steps to strengthen Global South cooperation, including enhanced consultations, sharing of expertise in areas like vaccine production, digital infrastructure, education, and agriculture, and advocating for reforms in the UN and broader multilateral system. “We must approach world affairs united, through broad principles that democratize production, enhance economic security, and serve the development concerns of the Global South,” he concluded.