Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a greater role for the Global South in shaping international rules and institutions, saying developing countries must move from being “rule-takers” to “rule-shapers”. Addressing the opening session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Saturday, PM Modi said countries of the Global South are often at the “front row” when global crises strike but remain in the “back row” when key decisions are made.
PM Modi called on BRICS countries to jointly draw up 10 proposals for reforming global governance, with the aim of turning them into a BRICS reform roadmap by the next summit.
Describing the existing global governance system as a “pyramid”, PM Modi said power and decision-making remain concentrated among a few countries, while nations affected by those decisions have limited say in shaping them. “The current structure of global governance resembles a pyramid: power and decision-making are concentrated at the top, while the lower tiers consist of nations that are affected by these decisions yet unable to shape them,” PM Modi said. The Prime Minister said BRICS must use its growing influence to push for reforms in international institutions, with representation, responsiveness and rule-making forming the three broad pillars of the proposed roadmap. A key priority, he said, should be reform of the United Nations Security Council, which “can no longer be delayed”. “Countries who give momentum to global growth should have a say in global decision-making,” he said.
The session, titled ‘Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism’, was attended by BRICS leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
