The Global South needs collective leadership

In an insightful interview with Diplomatist, Ambassador Rajiv Bhatia, a seasoned diplomat and scholar, shared his perspectives on India’s evolving role within the Global South, highlighting India’s leadership in addressing socio-economic disparities. Amb Bhatia underscored the untapped potential within BIMSTEC, stressing that it requires renewed political commitment to effectively foster regional cooperation amidst internal challenges. He elaborated on the promise of the Blue Economy for sustainable development, urging for an official Indian policy to drive oceanic resource management responsibly. Addressing India’s multilateral strategy, Bhatia advocated for coalition-building among Global South nations within institutions like the UN and WTO, emphasizing a collective leadership model. On India-Africa relations, he observed that African countries feel overshadowed by global conflicts and stressed India’s need to re-engage and support Africa’s development across socio-economic fronts.

How do you view India’s role in the evolving dynamics of the Global South, especially in light of the challenges posed by economic disparities?

I reckon that India’s role in the evolving dynamics of the Global South is pivotal. This grouping of over 134 nations has faced a complex set of socio-economic challenges, largely attributed to underdevelopment, injustice, and exploitation. As President of G20, India played a crucial role in creating a sense of solidarity among them, spelling out and articulating their main priorities, concerns, and interests. However, this is just the beginning of the quest to address those challenges. Today’s atmosphere in the international community is not conducive to overcoming challenges like poverty, sustainable development, debt relief, and raising additional resources needed to counter climate change. Therefore, the world has a genuine problem on its hands.

What do you see as the key opportunities and challenges for the BIMSTEC region in fostering economic cooperation among member states?

BIMSTEC is an important organization for a relatively new region carved out of South and Southeast Asia. First, it began poorly, but then, in 2016, when SAARC was placed on the back burner, it picked up momentum. It succeeded in having its formal charter. However, in the last three years, BIMSTEC seems to have lost momentum due to the internal political and economic challenges faced by three of its members: Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The current Chair, Thailand, has also not displayed a strong commitment to it. Therefore, this body needs a fresh injection of political will and support at the highest political levels to emerge as an effective instrument for regional cooperation.

Could you elaborate on the significance of the Blue Economy for India and its implications for sustainable development in the Indian Ocean region?

The Blue Economy refers to harnessing, in a sustainable manner, all resources relating to oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes for the larger benefit of humanity. The assumption is that, with the global population having reached the 8-billion mark and expanding, land-based resources are insufficient for its needs. Hence, people need to turn to oceans, but they must do so in a manner that safeguards the health of oceans.

Much research has been done on the potential parameters, scope, and challenges of the Blue Economy, but in the last couple of years, interest in the subject has waned. There was a clear expectation that the Indian government would announce its official policy on the Blue Economy. But for some reason, this has not happened so far. There is plenty of space for the government, business, industry, think tanks and other stakeholders to apprise themselves of how the benefits of the Blue Economy may be optimized for the people.

In your opinion, how can India enhance its multilateral diplomacy to better advocate for the interests of the Global South within institutions like the UN and WTO?

I think the only effective way is for India to keep building coalitions of the states focused on shared interests. We also need to remember that there is a sharp competition for leadership within the Global South. It is such a large and amorphous group that no single country can serve as the leader. The Global South needs collective leadership. This can be provided by India, assisted by several middle powers. At the same time, this group will need to learn to work with China based on equality and mutual respect.

Reflecting on your book “India-Africa Relations: Changing Horizons,” what are the emerging trends in India-Africa relations, and how can these be leveraged to mutual advantage in the post-pandemic world?

Since I authored the book on India-Africa Relations, I have had the opportunity to interact with many African scholars, officials, and diplomats. I have just returned after a fulfilling week-long visit to Zambia. So, what is on their mind, and what is happening on the continent? It has become clear our African friends are disheartened that the primary attention of the international community has been diverted to conflicts and rivalries such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the war in West Asia, and the US-China rivalry in the Indo-Pacific. As a result, more funds are being diverted to battlefields rather than to hospitals, schools, and roads. The supply of food, fuel, and fertilizers has been adversely affected the developing world.

Africa deserves more attention, even in India. Our universities and think tanks should study Africa more. Our industry should be more robust and active in pursuing business possibilities, and our political leaders should find more time to be visible in African countries. In short, we need to discover and cultivate Africa with greater determination. A country like India, which has performed better in the domain of socio-economic development, can help its African brothers and sisters on a much broader spectrum.

How can India effectively utilize its soft power and cultural diplomacy to strengthen ties with countries in the Global South?

India does what it can but needs to scale up its soft power deployment and expand its cultural diplomacy reach. For this purpose, it needs to set aside additional funding. Moreover, ICCR, other relevant cultural institutions and leading think tanks should reprioritize the Global South for their future activities. The Global South stretches from Latin America to the South Pacific, and Africa is considered its ‘core.’ Considering this, more ambitious plans are needed for the coming years.

Looking back at your distinguished career in the Indian Foreign Service, what personal experiences or lessons have most influenced your understanding of international relations and diplomacy?

My thirty-six years in the Indian Foreign Service took me on a fascinating journey, teaching me much about life. This journey involved living for extended periods in nine countries on four continents and travelling to over 60 countries worldwide.

What I learned from my interaction with Myanmar’s democracy icon, Aung San Suu Kyi, was to note how an individual can become a great person by sacrificing her interests for a larger national cause. Through my conversations with the first President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, I learned the value and power of posing questions to people. He exhibited a unique ability to connect with people, breaking the barriers of formality. From Prime Minister Jacques Chirac of France, I learned that talking to everyone, whether the person holds a big post or a small one, helps the leader to communicate and know what is on people’s minds. Finally, the lesson I absorbed from Zambia’s President Kenneth Kaunda was that a blend of humility, humour, self-confidence, and assertiveness is the essence of true leadership.

The final thought: undoubtedly, diplomacy is a rewarding profession that must continue expanding the arc of dialogue, understanding, cooperation, friendship, and peace in the world.