Introduction
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict have underscored a shift in global dynamics, with a growing emphasis on bilateral ties and regional alignments. India’s diplomatic stance during the pivotal conflicts has been to consistently voice the concerns of the developing nations and champion fair and just treatment for all. By promoting a rules-based international system and defending human rights, India positions itself as a key mediator and supporter of equitable global governance, ensuring smaller and developing countries have their needs addressed even in turbulent geopolitical landscapes. By stressing on global cooperation, inclusivity, sustainability and equitable development, India utilises its presence in international and regional organisations and groupings to champion the Global South, as evident through its engagements at the UN, G20 and BRICS in 2024.
India at the UN
India, as a democratic country, works alongside the United Nations, to ensure that the rules of international order are maintained, encourages its role in boosting multilateralism and advocates for equitable growth and inclusivity while combatting challenges. In January 2024, Arindam Bagchi was appointed as the new Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations Office in Geneva (The UNO at Geneva, 2024). Denoting its timely fulfilment of financial obligations, India joined the Honour Call of the UN 2024 by paying up to $32M in annual dues (Kumar, 2024). In May, considering India’s investments and consumptions, the UN revised the World Economic Situation and Prospects estimate of 6.2 per cent economic growth to 6.9 per cent in 2024 (PTI, 2024). India continues to engage bilaterally and multilaterally to expand the UNSC. The country is an active contributor to Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN), as well as a member of the G-4 and L69 Group to build global consensus (MEA, 2024). India’s term in the UN Peacebuilding Commission was extended for 2025-2026, highlighting its role as a founding member and the country’s significant contribution to peacekeeping (PTI, 2024 (a)). India has further made significant financial contributions to supporting initiatives like the Third and Fourth UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, IBSA Fund, UN Women, the Counter Terrorism Trust Fund (CTTF) and India-UN Development Fund and to the cause of countries like the Commonwealth of Dominica, Togo, Kiribati, Burundi, Honduras, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Belarus and Somalia. Further, New Delhi had chaired the 62nd Session of the Commission for Social Development for Social Development, hosted Interaction on South-South Cooperation and Development Funding Challenges, and was re-elected to the International Narcotics Control Board. The country also advocated for causes through the UN platform, such as transformative technology, Hindi awareness, UN reform, non-violence, food fortification and gender equality in defence (Permanent Mission of India to the UN, 2024).
India and the G20
Reflecting on a successful G20 Presidency in 2023, India attended the successive edition of the Summit at Rio in Brazil, wherein PM Modi highlighted the hardships of the Global South countries in terms of the consequences of conflicts and energy transitions. The 19th Summit was themed “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet,” followed by two Global South leaders’ summits, one each in January and November 2023 (Roche, 2024). The G20, under the Presidency of Brazil, focused on energy transition and upheld the cause of COP 30, sustainable development, global governance reform and poverty eradication, which was held from 18 to 19 November this year (G20 Africa 2025, 2024). At the Summit, India agreed to be a party to the “Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty” initiative, aimed at achieving the targets of SDGs. India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant commented that the Rio de Janeiro Declaration advances and extends the goals adopted in the New Delhi Declaration 2023, including the need for environmental protection, the significance of digital public infrastructure in transforming communities and the role of women in socio-economic progress (Roche, 2024). India upheld its commitment to advocating for the Global South at the G20 forum, ensuring that their needs and priorities were brought to the forefront of discussions on global issues.
India and the BRICS
Under the theme of ‘Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security’, the 16th BRICS Summit was chaired and hosted by Russia in Kazan from 22 to 24 October 2024, culminating in the adoption of the Kazan Declaration (MEA, 2024(a)). This edition of BRICS officially welcomed the expanded members including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia, but Argentina, who had pulled out from the invitation after Milei was elected the President, and Saudi Arabia, who is still contemplating its joining to the group. India reaffirmed its dedication to fostering a balanced multipolar world and advancing a reformed global order, with a stress on the Ukraine crisis. PM Modi appreciated the opening of the Gujarat International Finance Tech (GIFT) City Centre, a New Development Bank regional centre in India, along with applauding the significance of the BRICS Business Council and Women Business Alliance and the BRICS Startup Forum. India welcomed collaborations from other countries with its “Green Credit” and adopted its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) (MyGov, 2024). PM Modi met with President Xi Jinping, the outcome of which denoted a consensus to continue border patrols in Ladakh and with President Maous Pezeshkian to discuss Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor. India’s National Security Advisor had called for greater collaboration on overcoming security issues of a transnational nature through leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT), during the BRICS National Security Advisor’s conclave (Hindwan, 2024). Further, India reiterated its role as the Global South’s voice, a champion of global multilateral cooperation, and a connector between the East and the West (Mishra, 2024).
Conclusion
As New Delhi bids for a Permanent Position at the UNSC, highlights the challenges of the developing countries in the G20 forum and commits to fair treatment and justice, it emphasises on a reformed and multipolar world order. India’s keenness to participate in multilateral mechanisms has also been evident through its commitments to various regional and international organisations including ASEAN, IORA, BIMSTEC, IBSA, FAO, WTO and IAEA. Alluding to India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar’s statement, “Multilateralism has fallen short. And bilateral delivery is not what it used to be. The world is moving towards multipolarity, rebalancing and plurilateralism. Shared values and comforts are creating new combinations…” (Jaishankar, 2021). India’s engagement in multilateral constructs is aimed at the smooth transition to a multipolar world order, acting as the voice of the Global South.
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