IBSA at Johannesburg: India Calls for Unity, UNSC Reform & Digital Cooperation

Posted On : 25 November 2025
Syllabus:
GS2 – International Relations | Global Groupings | Multilateralism | Terrorism | UNSC Reform
GS3 – Economy | Digital Public Infrastructure | Agriculture & Climate Resilience

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🌍 Context

At the IBSA Leaders’ Meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Brazil and South Africa to leverage the grouping as a symbol of unity and cooperation in a world increasingly polarised by geopolitical tensions.

He called for a unified stance on terrorism, reforms in global governance, and strengthening South–South cooperation through digital innovation, climate-resilient agriculture, and institutionalised security dialogue.

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What is IBSA? (UPSC Core)

IBSA is a trilateral partnership between India, Brazil, and South Africa, connecting:

• Three continents (Asia, South America, Africa)
• Three major democracies
• Three major emerging economies

Formed in 2003, IBSA emphasizes South–South cooperation, democratic values, and multilateral reform.

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🌟 Key Highlights of KD-35

1) Call for Unified Action Against Terrorism

Modi stressed that “there can be no double standards on terrorism.”
He pushed for:

• Institutionalising NSA-level dialogues
• Coordinated intelligence and counter-terror frameworks
• Shared accountability among IBSA nations

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2) Push for UNSC Reform — Strongest Statement Yet

Modi reiterated that global institutions do not reflect present-day realities, noting that none of the IBSA countries are permanent members of the UNSC.

He emphasised:

• UNSC reform is “not an option but a necessity”
• IBSA must act in collective coordination
• Global South should have inclusivity and representation

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3) New Proposals by India

A. IBSA Fund for Climate-Resilient Agriculture

Purpose:

• Ensure food security
• Support climate-adaptive farming
• Help Global South nations through IBSA’s development footprint

(Current IBSA Fund has supported 50+ development projects in 40 countries.)

B. IBSA Digital Innovation Alliance

A transformative idea to share:

• UPI
• CoWIN
• DPIs in health & governance
• Cybersecurity architecture
• Women-led tech initiatives

India proposed launching this initiative at the AI Impact Summit, 2026.

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4) IBSA’s Strategic Importance in 2025

IBSA nations consecutively held three G20 presidencies:

• India (2023)
• Brazil (2024)
• South Africa (2025)

This created a rare moment for deep Global South leadership on:

• Human-centric development
• Sustainable growth
• Climate justice
• Multilateral reform

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5) India–South Africa Bilateral Outcomes

Modi and Ramaphosa discussed cooperation in:

• AI & Digital Public Infrastructure
• Critical minerals
• Mining, innovation & start-up ecosystems

Ramaphosa:
✔ Full support for India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026
✔ Appreciation for Indian investment
✔ Affirmed joint commitment to amplify Global South’s voice

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6) Strategic Backdrop — The Trump Factor

With Donald Trump’s second term disrupting global trade and multilateralism, India, Brazil, and South Africa are recalibrating strategic cooperation to:

• Navigate geoeconomic turbulence
• Reduce vulnerabilities
• Strengthen autonomous regional blocs

IBSA thus becomes a stabilising anchor amid global volatility.

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🌀 Conclusion

IBSA’s significance lies beyond a grouping—it represents the aspirations of the Global South.
Modi’s proposals at Johannesburg aim to:

• Build climate-resilient agriculture
• Democratize digital public goods
• Strengthen collective security
• Reform global institutions
• Enhance South–South solidarity

The message is clear:
IBSA is not just a partnership of three nations, but a bridge between continents, values, and futures.

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High Quality Mains Essay For Practice :

Word Limit 1000-1200

IBSA at G20 Johannesburg: Reimagining Global Governance Through Southern Solidarity

I. Introduction

In a moment when global politics is fractured by geopolitical rivalries, economic nationalism, and institutional stagnation, the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) grouping re-emerges as a quiet but powerful reminder of what democratic cooperation across continents can achieve. The recent IBSA meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg was not merely a diplomatic handshake—it was a political and philosophical statement. It signalled that in a world increasingly divided, unity from the Global South is no longer idealism; it is necessity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for “unity, cooperation and humanity” captures the very ethos of IBSA: three vibrant democracies, three emerging economies, and three continents tied by shared aspirations. With Brazil’s Lula da Silva and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa joining him, the huddle of the three leaders embodied this collective resolve. Their discussions—from terrorism, UNSC reform, and digital innovation to climate-resilient agriculture and global poverty—reaffirmed that IBSA is not just an acronym but a strategic vision for a more representative global order.

II. Understanding IBSA’s Strategic Identity

Established in 2003, IBSA predates BRICS but has often been overshadowed by it. Yet, IBSA possesses three unique characteristics that differentiate it from other multilateral groups:

1. Democratic Identity:
   All three members are robust democracies—rare in cross-continental groupings.
2. Geographic Span:
   Asia, Africa, and South America—IBSA is one of the few platforms bridging all three.
3. Global South Leadership:
   IBSA emerged as a civilisational alliance seeking equitable global governance, not merely economic coordination.

IBSA was conceived with the belief that developing democracies must have greater say in shaping global norms. The 2025 Johannesburg meeting reignited this foundational spirit.

III. IBSA’s Relevance in Today’s Fragmented World

The global order is witnessing multiple crises:

• Geopolitical polarisation between US-led and China-Russia blocs
• Trade instabilities exacerbated by US protectionism
• Technological inequality between digital giants and developing economies
• Climate vulnerability disproportionately affecting the poorest nations
• Institutional stagnation, especially in the UN system

For India, Brazil, and South Africa—economies exposed to global supply chains, climate shocks, and developmental pressures—IBSA remains an essential platform to reclaim strategic autonomy.

IV. Key Outcomes of the 2025 IBSA Meeting

1. Strong Stand Against Terrorism

Modi’s assertion that there can be “no double standards on terrorism” was aimed not only at global inconsistencies but also at the selective narratives that weaken collective security. His call to institutionalise the NSA-level dialogue elevates counter-terror cooperation to a structured, sustained mechanism.

2. Push for UNSC Reforms

All three IBSA members are victims of the outdated structure of the UN Security Council.

• None of the three is a Permanent Member
• Global demographics and economic weight are not represented
• The P5 veto system remains an obstacle to equity

IBSA’s collective push for reforms is not about prestige—it is about legitimacy. In Modi’s words, institutional reform is “not an option but a necessity.”

3. Climate-Resilient Agriculture Fund

IBSA’s proposal to set up a dedicated fund for climate-resilient agriculture is a visionary step. All three nations share similar vulnerabilities: erratic monsoons, desertification, drought cycles, and increasing agricultural instability.

The fund will help in:

• Promoting resilient crop varieties
• Sharing water-efficient farming techniques
• Scaling climate-smart agricultural technologies
• Supporting farmers through digital platforms

This positions IBSA as a leader in Global South climate adaptation.

4. Digital Innovation Alliance

By proposing a Digital Alliance to share Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), India is essentially globalising the success of:

• UPI
• CoWIN
• DigiLocker
• Open health and education platforms
• Cybersecurity frameworks
• Women-led Tech initiatives

The alliance can unlock huge developmental dividends for Brazil, Africa, and beyond.

5. Strengthening IBSA Fund

Modi applauded the IBSA Fund for having completed 50+ development projects in 40 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Extending this fund toward climate-resilient agriculture reaffirms IBSA’s humanitarian and development-centric identity.

V. IBSA and the Challenge of Global South Leadership

The strength of IBSA lies in its ability to articulate what many developing nations feel but cannot express on global platforms. The current international system suffers from:

• Selective humanitarianism
• Selective sanctions
• Selective development priorities
• Selective environmental commitments

IBSA’s voice is crucial because its leadership comes from lived experience, not geopolitical superiority.

VI. IBSA in Context of G20 and BRICS

The 2025 meeting is historically significant because:

• India (2023), Brazil (2024), South Africa (2025) held three consecutive G20 presidencies—a rare moment of Global South continuity.
• The development agenda was preserved despite great-power tensions.
• South Africa’s presidency concludes the cycle before the US takes over, which may shift priorities.

IBSA also complements BRICS, but with a crucial difference: BRICS includes China and Russia; IBSA remains a democratic, autonomous, and non-hegemonic grouping.

VII. The Broader Geopolitical Setting: Riding Out the Trump Churn

The return of President Donald Trump has unsettled global trade and diplomacy:

• Unpredictable tariff actions
• Disruptions to multilateral institutions
• Reduced US engagement with developmental issues
• Hardening attitudes on immigration and supply chains

For India, Brazil, and South Africa—who rely on stable global trade—IBSA becomes a political insurance mechanism to navigate the turbulence.

VIII. Bilateral India–South Africa and India–Brazil Dimensions

Modi’s separate meeting with Ramaphosa highlighted:

• Cooperation on AI and Digital Public Infrastructure
• Critical minerals (especially essential for renewable tech)
• Mutual investments in infrastructure and start-ups
• Enhanced mining and innovation partnerships

India’s invitation to join the International Big Cat Alliance strengthens environmental diplomacy.

With Brazil, India shares deep agricultural, technological, and BRICS-linked synergies. Lula’s leadership style aligns strongly with multilateral reform, making him a natural ally.

IX. Strengthening Voice of the Global South

IBSA’s political philosophy rests on four pillars:

1. Collective Development
2. Democratic Global Governance
3. People-centric Multilateralism
4. Strategic Autonomy of Developing Countries

In amplifying the voice of the Global South, IBSA serves as a moral counterweight to power politics.

X. Challenges Before IBSA

Despite its promise, IBSA faces critical challenges:

• Lack of a permanent secretariat
• Competition with BRICS agendas
• Slow progress on UNSC reforms
• Divergent national priorities
• Limited financial contributions to IBSA Fund
• Great-power influence in partner regions
• Institutional fatigue on climate and development issues

Yet, these challenges also create opportunities for reinvention.

XI. Way Forward

For IBSA to shape the future global order, it must:

1. Establish a permanent IBSA Secretariat
2. Fast-track digital innovation alliance
3. Expand the climate-agriculture fund
4. Build an integrated IBSA trade corridor
5. Push aggressively for UNSC reforms with collective lobbying
6. Strengthen cooperation in defence, cybersecurity, and AI
7. Amplify development partnerships in Africa and Latin America

XII. Conclusion

The IBSA meeting in Johannesburg was not just a gathering of leaders—it was a symbolic reminder that the Global South will no longer remain a silent spectator in world affairs. Modi, Lula, and Ramaphosa demonstrated that unity across continents is not merely diplomatic choreography; it is a strategic imperative for humanity’s future.

IBSA’s vision—anchored in democracy, development, digital innovation, climate resilience, and peace—offers the world an alternative model of globalisation: equitable, humane, and multipolar.

In times of deepening global divides, IBSA carries the quiet confidence of nations that have suffered, survived, and risen. Their unity is not a geopolitical move; it is a civilisational statement. And as long as IBSA continues to speak for the world’s underserved, the future of global governance will have a voice worth listening to.in. The recent discovery of eleven Satavahana-era inscriptions by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is not merely a historical footnote. It is a powerful echo of a civilization that shaped the political, cultural, and economic contours of early India. When we read stone, we do not just read facts — we feel the pulse of a people, their gods, their wars, their poetry, and their vision of order.

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