Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took part in the IBSA Leaders’ Meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, emphasising that reforms of the UN Security Council (UNSC) are “no longer optional” and calling for a united, uncompromising global stance against terrorism.
Hosted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the meeting also saw the participation of Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, with the three leaders reviewing cooperation under the India–Brazil–South Africa (IBSA) trilateral framework.
‘Global institutions no longer reflect today’s world’
PM Modi said the absence of IBSA countries as permanent members of the UNSC was a clear indicator that global governance structures remain outdated.
“None of us is a permanent member of the UN Security Council. This clearly demonstrates that global institutions no longer represent today’s world. Therefore, IBSA must send a unified message: institutional reform is not an option but an imperative,” he said.
Diplomatic sources rejected suggestions that the meeting signalled a response to the United States—currently absent from the G20 Summit due to allegations regarding treatment of white Afrikaners in South Africa—pointing out that IBSA leaders had also held a substantive meeting on the margins of the 2024 G20 Summit in Rio.
‘No room for double standards on terrorism’
The Prime Minister stressed that IBSA nations must work in close coordination to tackle terrorism.
“On an issue of such gravity, there can be no room for double standards. United and decisive action is essential,” he said, proposing the institutionalisation of NSA-level dialogue among the three countries to enhance security cooperation.
He also highlighted the need for a global fight against the drug–terror nexus, reiterating India’s strong stance on cross-border terror financing.
Growing relevance of IBSA amid Global South leadership
Calling the meeting “timely”, PM Modi noted that it coincided with the first G20 Summit hosted on African soil and capped four consecutive G20 presidencies by Global South nations, including three by IBSA members.
He said this sequence had strengthened focus on human-centric development, multilateral reforms and sustainable growth.
Modi described IBSA as a “bridge across three continents”, uniting major democracies and large emerging economies with shared priorities.
India proposes IBSA Digital Innovation Alliance
Highlighting the role of technology in inclusive growth, PM Modi proposed establishing an IBSA Digital Innovation Alliance to enable collaboration on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including UPI, CoWIN-like health platforms, cybersecurity frameworks, and women-led tech initiatives.
He underlined IBSA’s potential to contribute to global efforts to develop “safe, trustworthy and human-centric AI norms”. Modi also invited IBSA leaders to India’s AI Summit scheduled for 2026.
New fund for climate-resilient agriculture
Appreciating the IBSA Fund’s contribution to projects across 40 countries—in areas such as education, solar energy, women’s empowerment and health—Modi proposed creating an IBSA Fund for Climate Resilient Agriculture to deepen South–South cooperation.