MEA Secretary Sibi George shares India's perspectives on multilateralism with UN delegation
New Delhi, Aug 2
Sibi George, Ministry of External Affairs Secretary, on Sunday hosted a dinner for a United Nations' delegation and shared India's perspectives on multilateralism.
"MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George hosted a welcome dinner for a delegation of Permanent Representatives to the UN who are on a week-long familiarisation visit to India. He shared India's perspectives on multilateralism and the UN and wished the delegation a fruitful stay in India," the MEA said on X.
In July, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar launched India's campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term in New York, outlining New Delhi's vision for a more representative, effective and future-ready global order.
Highlighting India's broader vision for global governance, EAM Jaishankar said: "India's focus will be on working for a secure, peaceful and equitable world. A world where the voice of the Global South is heard in equal measure. A world where peacekeeping is ready for contemporary and future challenges, a world where multilateralism reflects contemporary realities and provides effective solutions, not remain on high standards, a world where the promise of technologies is fulfilled."
He said India's approach would be rooted in SHANTI - Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity - and would focus on strengthening the voice of the Global South in matters relating to international peace and security.
He added that India's approach would be guided by dialogue, cooperation and efforts to bridge differences among nations.
The External Affairs Minister also outlined India's commitment to building a future-ready UN peacekeeping framework that is better equipped, technologically enabled, realistically mandated and focused on core objectives.
He said India would continue to champion the Women, Peace and Security agenda and support a greater role for women peacekeepers.
He also added that India would prioritise promoting a free, open and rules-based maritime order in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
"Ensuring the safe and unimpeded flow of maritime commerce, combating piracy, safeguarding seafarers and supporting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions would remain key priorities."
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see India taking a leadership role in making the UN more inclusive. The voice of the Global South has been ignored for too long. I hope this campaign for the 2028-29 non-permanent seat is successful. India has a lot to offer in terms of peacekeeping and technology.
Interesting to see India's approach evolving. As someone from the US, I appreciate the emphasis on UNCLOS and a rules-based maritime order. The focus on women peacekeepers is also a positive development. Let's see if this translates into concrete action.
It's heartening to see India championing the Women, Peace and Security agenda. We have come a long way, and I am proud that our country is leading the conversation on gender equality in peacekeeping missions. 🙏
Good initiative, but I hope the MEA focuses on concrete outcomes rather than just rhetoric. We have been talking about UNSC reforms for decades. While I appreciate the vision, the execution needs to match the ambition. Especially with the global situation getting more complex.
India's pitch for a more "representative" UN is spot on. The current Security Council structure is outdated. Glad to see a country with India's credibility take a stand for the Global South. Looking forward to seeing how this plays out in the coming years.
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