Addressing foreign ministers attending the virtual “Voices of the Global South” summit hosted by India Jan. 12-13, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar explained that the summit had been organized as a platform in which developing nations can express their concerns and priorities. This is particularly important, he said, as India assumes the presidency of the G20 because “we see clearly that the key concerns of the developing world are not being captured in its debates and discussions…. The search for solutions does not give due weight to the needs and aspirations of the Global South. We therefore wanted to ensure that India’s G20 presidency gathers that voice, the perspectives, the priorities of the Global South and articulates that clearly in its debates.”
Enumerating the many challenges the developing world faces, Jaishanker minced no words in identifying the burdens developing nations are expected to bear against the backdrop of “unkept promises.” They are expected to develop climate resilience, to “industrialize without carbonizing,” deal with growing climate events and lift millions out of poverty “all at the same time,” while trying to manage a host of other problems. “Those who were promised an interconnected world now actually see a world with higher walls, insensitive to social needs and discriminatory in its health practices.”
Dramatic changes are needed, Jaishankar said, starting with a new “Global South sensitive model” in which “self-centered globalization” is replaced with “human-centered globalization. This means shifting the focus more on development as a whole.” And, rather than the Global South being on the receiving end of technological patronage, he called for Global South-led innovations for societal transformation. Next, development cooperation should become demand-driven based on sustainable development cooperation rather than debt-creating projects. Overall, globalization should be decentralized to and “derisked,” Jainshakar proposed.
He also emphasized that India has much experience in working on development projects in other countries and has also emerged as an education and healthcare hub for the Global South, with projects that are “demand-driven, transparent, empowerment-oriented … and rely on a consultative approach,” respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity. He told the gathered ministers that “it would be our sincere endeavor to amplify our convergences and speak as one voice on matters that are so critical to the peace and prosperity of our societies.”
