India’s approach to multilateral engagement is founded on mutual respect and solidarity, according to a prominent UN envoy, who emphasised the Global South’s reliance on “the India way” to shape the future. In a webinar organised by the Centre for Global India Insights (CGII) and India Writes Network, Inga Rhonda King, Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the UN, lauded India’s role as a leading voice in the Global South.
King highlighted India’s expanding leadership, citing initiatives such as the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 and the nation’s vaccine diplomacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. She praised the India-UN Development Partnership Fund for empowering partners to determine the use of provided funds, reflecting India’s commitment to mutual respect and solidarity.
The discussion came ahead of the landmark UN Summit of the Future on September 22-23, where world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will gather. Modi is also set to address the Quad Leaders’ Summit hosted by President Joe Biden on September 21. King underscored that India’s leadership during these multilateral moments exemplifies the future path of global cooperation.
India’s former UN envoy Ruchira Kamboj also spoke at the event, acknowledging the UN Summit as a “landmark moment” for multilateralism. However, she warned that the true impact of the summit’s outcomes would depend on the ability to transform lofty ideals into actionable commitments. Kamboj also noted that longstanding challenges, such as Security Council reforms, continue to face opposition from existing permanent members, hindering significant progress.
Former UN Assistant Secretary General Lakshmi Puri emphasised the need for the Summit of the Future to address deep divides, both between East and West and North and South. She reiterated that multilateral reforms, particularly within the United Nations, are long overdue.
UN Resident Coordinator in India, Shombi Sharp, described the summit as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to modernise outdated multilateral frameworks. He echoed Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ call to rebuild global institutions to meet the challenges of today’s world.
The event also addressed critical issues like climate finance, with Vanshika Kant of the Asian Development Bank highlighting the financial challenges faced by developing nations in tackling climate change. She emphasised the essential role of multilateral development banks in mobilising resources to bridge the gap between climate promises and actions.
