Message to UN, it’s no longer 1945

PM Modi is set to address the UN’s ‘Summit of the Future’ event on global conflicts and crises later today — the event being held at a time when the global order is unravelling. It is a time when international laws that enjoyed universal adherence are violated without accountability; when the world silently watches conflicts — like in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan — erode the sanctity of human life; when supremacy of value systems is sought to be settled on the battlefield, and when multilateral organisations stand paralysed.This meeting ought to look at the fundamental changes in the way we carry out business with each other, spanning broadly five areas.Non-alignment works | India’s history gave it the ability for independent thinking and for building bridges. In the early 1950s, fact that India was a barely four-year-old new independent nation did not deter us from contributing towards a resolution in the Korean war. In recognition, India was made chair of the five-member Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission. Non-alignment followed, where New Delhi refused to join the two opposing blocs and created a third ‘non-aligned’ force. Now, accosted with two differing world views and blocs, we are doing much of the same — refusing to join either bloc.In fact, it is New Delhi’s abstention on votes on the Russia-Ukraine war at UN that acted as a catalyst in helping bigger developing countries take an independent stand, voice their dissatisfaction on military solutions being pursued, and call for dialogue. India is now uniquely poised to play a role in bringing the two warring parties to the table.Autonomy of decision-making is essential. Paralysis of international organisations, much as we may criticise it, is at the very least recognition that a single dominant worldview — the Western worldview — is no more unchallenged. The space for multi-alignment needs to be widened. For instance, if rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran involved China, rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel would have been on US’s plate but for the war in Gaza. Africa is shrugging off their former colonial masters by taking advantage of this divide.Türkiye has a say in many opposing camps. More countries will shun bloc politics and help shape a future where countries cannot be taken for granted.UN’s collective voice | Multilateral decisions need to be relevant to all countries, not just a handful that are democratic and inclusive. Smaller countries in the Global South find their collective voice in institutions with universal participation, such as UN. That is their insurance against being bullied. Smaller plurilateral bodies of big powers, however well-intentioned, cannot represent the global community, even if as influential as G7 or G20.This is why India convened the Voice of the Global South Summit under its G20 presidency and helped African Union enter G20 — to ensure G20 decisions are not distanced from reality.UN reforms a must | For all this to materialise, reform is crucial. Almost all current problems, whether at UN, WTO, IMF or World Bank, can be traced back to the status quo of 1945 architecture. To reflect the changed balance of global power, countries like India demand reform.India has called for reformed multilateralism, and is at the forefront of UNSC reforms. Conflicts will remain unresolved unless there is permanent representation of the Global South, especially that of India and countries in Africa.Proxy wars & terror | Use of force and proxy wars have only made warring parties less secure. A nation seeking security must not make another state insecure. Nato sought security for Europe by inching closer to the Russian border, thereby provoking it. Chinese transgressions on India’s border will have similar effect. Security is not a zero-sum game. Israel, Iran and the region are far more insecure now than ever before. The same goes for proxy wars in Africa, and maritime security architecture of the Indo-Pacific.Terrorism, both state and non-state, has made the situation more complex, with Africa now the epicentre. We need a genuine collective security architecture respecting “mutual sensitivities”.Harness tech with ethics | But all this is meaningless if development, progress and gender equality cannot be provided, and sustainable development goals and Paris climate goals remain unmet. Deploying cutting-edge tech for public good will have to be integral to peace and development. Tech with ethics to curb its misuse, tech with regulation to curb its risks, and a robust tech governance structure are essential. In global challenges, from climate change to regional conflicts, India is indispensable to finding solutions.The writer is former Permanent Representative of India to UN (2020-22).