Ambassador Ashok Sajjanhar
Introduction
India’s relations with countries of the Global South have deep roots in shared histories, common struggles, and mutual aspirations for development and self-reliance. Over the years, India’s role has evolved from being a leader in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to becoming a pivotal player in contemporary South–South cooperation.
India’s partnership with the Global South was propelled to a new level by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he organised the first Voice of the Global South Summit (VOGSS) on 12–13 January 2023, within a few weeks of India taking over the Presidency of the G20. This summit was followed by another later in the year and a third in 2024.
In addition to articulating the interests, priorities and aspirations of the Global South through several VOGSS meetings and raising these issues at all relevant fora, India also “walks the talk” by extending all possible assistance to countries of the Global South.
Background
India’s role within the Global South is pivotal, leveraging its growing economic power, democratic framework, and strategic geopolitical positioning to advocate for more equitable global governance.
India’s development assistance programmes to members of the Global South underscore its role as a partner in progress. Through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, India has provided training, capacity-building and technical assistance to more than 160 countries. This programme covers a wide range of areas, including healthcare, education, agriculture and information technology, thereby contributing significantly to human resource development across the Global South.
The policy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family)
The spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” has served as the guiding philosophy of India’s foreign policy for more than a decade. This principle found its fullest expression during India’s chairmanship of the G20 in 2023, when it adopted the motto “One Earth, One Family, One Future” for its Presidency and ensured that decisions emerging from the deliberations reflected this commitment.
Current status
In recent years, India’s Global South partnership has matured into a core pillar of its foreign policy. One of the most consequential achievements of India’s G20 Presidency was the inclusion of the African Union—a body comprising 54 African countries—as a full-fledged member of the G20. This issue had remained unresolved for many years, and it fell to India, with its strong commitment to the interests of the Global South, to bring it to fruition by forging the requisite consensus.
India has been able to significantly enhance its engagement with the Global South as its economy has expanded rapidly in recent years. When Prime Minister Modi assumed office in 2014, India’s economy was the 10th largest in the world. Today, it is the fourth largest, with projections indicating that it could become the third largest by 2027. India is currently the fastest-growing major economy, with GDP growth registering an impressive 8.2 per cent in the last quarter. The economy is expected to expand from around US$4 trillion today to more than US$10 trillion by 2035.
India’s increased economic strength has, inter alia, enhanced its capacity to play a more active role in global affairs and to extend a helping hand in times of need. During the Covid-19 pandemic, India supplied medicines and vaccines—most of them gratis—to several partners, particularly from the Global South. India provided medicines to more than 150 countries and supplied over 300 million vaccine doses under its Vaccine Maitri (Vaccine Friendship) initiative to more than 100 countries.
Its economic heft also enabled India to assist Sri Lanka to the tune of US$4.5 billion when the latter’s coffers were empty in 2022, and to support Afghanistan, the Maldives and others with financial assistance, food supplies and medicines when these countries had their backs to the wall. This has further allowed India to emerge as a first responder in times of need, particularly when calamities such as earthquakes and floods have struck in its neighbourhood and beyond.
Key pillars of engagement
India’s Global South partnership today is defined by four distinct areas of cooperation:
A. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the India Stack
India has moved from domestic achievements to global outreach.
- Fintech diplomacy: UPI (Unified Payments Interface) is now operational or in pilot stages across several Global South nations, including Namibia, Sri Lanka and parts of South-East Asia.
- Social Impact Fund: India’s US$25 million commitment to a Social Impact Fund is helping smaller nations build their own digital identity (Aadhaar-like) and payment systems to promote financial inclusion.
B. Health and pharmaceutical leadership
Reaffirming its position as the “pharmacy of the world”, India has evolved from supplying medicines and vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic to building long-term health resilience.
- Generic medicines: Providing affordable, high-quality generic drugs to countries in Africa and the Caribbean.
- Regulatory capacity: India is actively training drug regulators in Global South countries to help them establish robust pharmaceutical safety standards.
C. The Global Development Compact
Proposed by Prime Minister Modi in late 2024, this compact focuses on:
- Trade for development: Reducing barriers for least developed countries (LDCs).
- Concessional finance: Offering project-specific grants rather than the “debt-trap” loans often associated with some other major powers.
D. Climate justice and energy transition
India champions the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” (CBDR).
- International Solar Alliance (International Solar Alliance): With 121 member countries—many from the Global South—the ISA underscores India’s commitment to tackling climate change and promoting renewable energy.
- Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment): India encourages a shift towards sustainable consumption, a narrative that resonates strongly with developing nations that are not the primary contributors to climate change yet suffer its worst impacts.
Conclusion
India’s engagement with the Global South has evolved significantly, reflecting its growing economic power, strategic interests and ambition to play a leading role on the global stage. Its proactive outreach underscores a commitment to a multipolar world in which developing nations have a meaningful voice in global affairs.
As both a leader and a partner, India continues to shape the future of the Global South. Through sustained cooperation, mutual respect and shared aspirations, India and the Global South can together navigate the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
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