Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the leaders of Brazil and South Africa during an IBSA meeting held on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, underscored that the IBSA alliance must emerge as a beacon of unity, cooperation, and humanity at a time when the global landscape appears increasingly polarised.
Placing terrorism at the forefront of global concerns, he stressed that the world must not tolerate “double standards” on the issue and urged IBSA nations to act collectively.
He proposed institutionalising a National Security Advisers–level trilateral dialogue to strengthen coordination on security threats.
Modi further laid out a forward-looking roadmap for IBSA, suggesting the creation of a dedicated IBSA Fund for climate-resilient agriculture, an area that demands immediate attention from developing nations.
Alongside this, he advocated the establishment of a Digital Innovation Alliance to share India’s proven public digital infrastructure — including UPI, CoWIN, cyber-secure platforms, and tech initiatives led by women.
He recommended launching this initiative at the AI Impact Summit scheduled to take place in India next year.
Emphasising IBSA’s unique character, the Prime Minister said the grouping stands not merely as a trio of nations but as a bridge connecting three continents, three major democracies, and three influential economies.
He described the meeting as both “historic and timely,” coming at the close of four consecutive G20 presidencies held by countries of the Global South.
Reflecting on the collective achievements of recent years, he highlighted that Brazil, South Africa, and India — as successive G20 chairs — have advanced people-centric development, multilateral reform, and sustainable growth.
He argued that their responsibility now is to reinforce and deepen these initiatives.
Calling for urgent reforms in global governance structures, Modi said international institutions no longer represent the realities of the modern world.
Pointing out that none of the IBSA nations has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, he declared institutional reform “a necessity, not an option.”
He urged closer coordination between the three nations in combating terrorism, reiterating that unified global action is vital for peace and prosperity.
Modi also praised the long-standing IBSA Fund, which has supported nearly fifty development projects across forty countries in domains such as education, solar energy, women’s empowerment, and health.
Building on this legacy, he proposed expanding its mandate to support agriculture that can withstand climate shocks.
Deepening India–South Africa Partnership
In a separate bilateral meeting, the Indian Prime Minister and the South African President reviewed ongoing collaborations and explored opportunities to boost cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital public goods, and critical minerals.
Both leaders welcomed growing Indian investment in South Africa and agreed to support new opportunities in mining, tech, infrastructure, and innovation.
Modi expressed appreciation for South Africa’s assistance in relocating cheetahs to India, and extended an invitation for South Africa to join the International Big Cat Alliance.
Together, the two leaders affirmed a shared commitment to amplifying the voice of the Global South.
South Africa also assured its full support for India’s upcoming BRICS chairship in 2026.
A Strategic Shift Amid Global Uncertainty
The strengthening of IBSA comes at a time when the international system is undergoing turbulence, with shifting trade priorities and geopolitical recalibrations.
New Delhi’s engagement with Brazil and South Africa reflects a broader strategic intent — to navigate unpredictable global economic trends and build resilient partnerships.
For India, Brazil, and South Africa, deeper cooperation through IBSA offers a stable platform to collectively address global challenges, advocate for fairer multilateral systems, and steer the Global South through an increasingly complex world order.
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