At the Johannesburg G20 Summit, PM Modi highlighted IBSA as the democratic voice of the Global South, urged swift UNSC reform, and called for a united stand against terrorism. He proposed NSA-level security talks, an IBSA Digital Innovation Alliance, and a climate-resilient agriculture fund to boost South-South cooperation.
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The leaders of India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) met during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg and agreed to enhance their trilateral cooperation.
The IBSA is a unique trilateral organization established by the Brasilia Declaration in 2003, it brings together three large, diverse democracies from three different continents,
Promoting South-South Cooperation: To enhance collaboration on developmental issues, sharing best practices and technologies.
Voice for the Global South: To promote and defend the interests of developing countries on global platforms like the UN, WTO, and G20.
Strengthening Democratic Values: The forum is built on a foundation of shared values such as democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
Political and Global Governance
UNSC Reforms: IBSA members are united in their demand for reform of the UN Security Council.
Counter-Terrorism: The forum calls for a unified global stance against terrorism and pushing for institutionalized dialogue at the National Security Adviser (NSA) level.
G20 Coordination: Members coordinate closely to ensure the G20 agenda addresses Global South priorities: sustainable growth, multilateral reform, and human-centric development.
While the trade volume among IBSA countries remains below its potential, there is a strong push to deepen economic ties.
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Country |
Complementary Strengths |
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India |
Digital Public Infrastructure (UPI, CoWIN), pharmaceuticals, Information Technology (IT) services, and a robust startup ecosystem. |
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Brazil |
Leader in agriculture (agri-tech), biofuels, food processing, and deep-sea oil exploration. |
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South Africa |
Rich in mineral resources (critical minerals), advanced manufacturing capabilities, and a well-developed financial sector. |
India-South Africa Trade
In FY25, bilateral trade reached $18 billion. (Source: IBEF)
India-Brazil Trade
IBSA Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund): Established in 2004 to support development projects in other Global South countries. Each member contributes $1 million annually.
Digital Alliance: IBSA digital innovation alliance to share open-source technologies like India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including platforms for payment (UPI), health, and cybersecurity frameworks.
Climate Action: Establish an "IBSA Fund for Climate Resilient Agriculture" to promote sustainable farming practices and mitigate the impact of climate change.
Defence and Security Cooperation
IBSAMAR: India, Brazil, and South Africa's trilateral maritime exercise aims to boost interoperability, maritime security, and joint operational capabilities in the Indian Ocean and South Atlantic.
Shared Interests: Cooperation extends to combating piracy, illegal fishing, and securing vital Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs).
For the Global South
IBSA serves as a democratic, consultative forum that presents an alternative model of South-South cooperation, with more state-centric models.
It amplifies the voice of developing nations on critical issues like climate justice, equitable access to technology, and fair trade practices, enhancing the collective bargaining power of the Global South.
Strategic Balance: IBSA helps India counterbalance China's influence in forums like BRICS, offering a platform based on shared democratic values.
Geopolitical Reach: The forum strengthens India's diplomatic and economic presence across the continents of South America and Africa.
Economic Opportunities: It opens new markets for Indian exports in sectors like pharmaceuticals, digital services, and defence equipment.
Leadership Role: IBSA reinforces India’s credentials as a leading voice and a "first responder" for the Global South.
Lack of Institutional Structure: Unlike other groupings, IBSA does not have a permanent secretariat, which slows down implementation and follow-up.
Low Intra-IBSA Trade: Economic integration remains weak, with trade volumes lagging far behind the set targets due to logistical bottlenecks and regulatory hurdles.
Competing Priorities: The IBSA agenda is occasionally overshadowed by the attention given to larger blocs such as BRICS and G20.
Domestic Issues: Internal political and economic challenges within the member countries divert attention from trilateral cooperation.
Regular Summits: Ensuring a predictable calendar for leaders' summits to maintain high-level political momentum.
Deepen Economic Integration: Exploring a trilateral trade agreement or frameworks for specific value chains in sectors like green energy, agri-tech, and critical minerals.
Focus on Niche Areas: Building joint platforms for cooperation in emerging areas like Artificial Intelligence (AI), space technology, and digital governance.
Strengthen Institutional Mechanisms: Formalizing dialogues at the NSA level and among other key ministries to ensure continuous engagement.
IBSA, a forum of like-minded Global South democracies, demonstrates the strength of cooperation despite geopolitical fragmentation. By using its collective power and shared values, IBSA could aid in creating a more inclusive, balanced, and multipolar global order.
Source: INDIAN EXPRESS
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. With reference to the IBSA Dialogue Forum, consider the following statements: 1. It was established in 2003 through the Brasilia Declaration. 2. All its members are also part of the BRICS grouping. 3. The IBSA Fund for the Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger is a key pillar of its South-South cooperation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? A) 1 and 2 only B) 2 and 3 only C) 1 and 3 only D) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: D Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: The IBSA Dialogue Forum was established in 2003, when the Foreign Ministers of India, Brazil, and South Africa met in Brasilia and adopted the Brasilia Declaration. This declaration launched the trilateral cooperation initiative. Statement 2 is correct: The members of IBSA are India, Brazil, and South Africa. These three nations are also founding or original members of the BRICS grouping, which currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Thus, all IBSA members are also part of BRICS. Statement 3 is correct: The IBSA Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund) is a key mechanism for the forum's South-South cooperation. Established in 2004, the fund supports development projects in other Global South countries. |
The IBSA Dialogue Forum is a trilateral grouping established in 2003, comprising India, Brazil, and South Africa. It brings together three large, multicultural democracies from Asia, South America, and Africa to consult on global issues, foster trilateral cooperation, and promote South-South cooperation.
IBSA's core objectives are built on three pillars: 1) Political consultation on global issues to advocate for a more equitable international order, 2) Trilateral cooperation in specific areas like technology and agriculture, and 3) Assisting other developing countries through the IBSA Fund.
The IBSA Fund for the Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger is a pioneering initiative for South-South cooperation. Each member country contributes $1 million annually to this fund, which is then used to finance demand-driven, replicable, and scalable development projects in other developing countries to help them achieve their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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