New Delhi: During a virtual address at the 3rd ‘Voice of Global South Summit’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted global uncertainties, growing threats of terrorism and separatism and India’s efforts to aid Gaza and Ukraine where conflicts rage.
The ‘Voice of Global South Summit’ was a product of India’s G20 presidency last year. It seeks to be a platform where developing countries can discuss problems and priorities related to their development.
Leaders of developing countries, including Nobel Laureate Mohammed Yunus, who leads the interim government in Bangladesh, attended the event Saturday.
Reiterating his proposal at the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit last November, Modi said India will contribute $25 million to a fund for digital public infrastructure (DPI) in countries of the “Global South”. “To accelerate DPI in the Global South, we have created the Social Impact Fund. India will make an initial contribution of $25 million,” he said.
Here are the key takeaways from his address.
On an ‘atmosphere of uncertainty’
In his virtual address, Modi said: “Today we are meeting at a time when there is an atmosphere of uncertainty all around. War-like situations have raised challenges in our developmental journey”.
“We are not only facing the challenges of climate change, but now there are also concerns about health security, food security, and energy security,” he added.
Not just India but China, too, has been positioning itself as an anchor in the region, especially as it seeks to expand multilateral groupings like BRICS and SCO against Western-led groups.
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On threats of terrorism, extremism, separatism
In his speech, the Indian PM highlighted growing threats of terrorism, extremism and separatism on the world stage. He also took aim at global institutions that failed to address such challenges.
“Terrorism, extremism and separatism remain serious threats to our societies. Technology divide and new economic and social challenges related to technology are also emerging,” he said.
“The global governance and financial institutions created in the last century have been unable to meet the challenges of this century,” he added.
On Gaza & Ukraine
India is providing humanitarian aid to regions facing major conflicts like Gaza and Ukraine, said Modi.
“At the time of humanitarian crisis, India is helping its friendly countries like a first responder. Be it the volcanic eruption in Papua New Guinea, or the flood incident in Kenya,” he said.
“We have also provided humanitarian aid in conflict areas like Gaza and Ukraine,” he added.
While speaking at an event in Delhi earlier this week, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar predicted a “grim forecast” for the next five years on the world stage.
“If I were to give a five-year forecast, then it would be a grim forecast…You see what is happening in the Middle East, Ukraine, South East Asia-East Asia, the continued impact of Covid, economic challenges, disruptions of various kinds, climate events,” he said at the ‘Indiaspora Impact Report: Small Community, Big Contributions, Boundless Horizons’ event in Delhi Tuesday.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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