Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the lack of reforms in the multilateral governance institutions, including the expansion of UN Security Council permanent membership base, as he questioned the relevance of the post-World War II global order.
“I believe that the world needs to have an honest discussion about the multilateral governance structures that were built in the aftermath of second World War,” the Indian leader told French publication Les Echos ahead of his official visit to Paris.
The official transcript of the interview was shared by Modi on his social media.
Modi said that the world had undergone a transformation since the UN and other global organizations such as Bretton Woods institutions were created eight decades ago.
“The number of member countries have grown by four times. The character of the global economy has changed. We live in an era of new technology. New powers have risen causing a relative shift in global balance. We face new challenges, including climate change, cyber security, terrorism, space security, pandemics. I could go on about the changes,” he said.
Modi questioned if the institutions really represented “today’s world” and whether they were “relevant” in the face of contemporary realities.
“The UN Security Council, in particular, epitomizes this dissonance. How can we talk of it as a primary organ of a global body, when entire continents of Africa and Latin America are ignored? How can it claim to speak for the world when its most populous country, and its largest democracy, is not a permanent member?” he questioned.
Modi slammed the UN Security Council for its “skewed membership” structure and “opaque decision-making”, which he said were adding to the “helplessness” in addressing currency challenges.
Prime Minister Modi said that most of the countries in the world were “clear on the changes” they wanted at the UN Security Council, which he said included a permanent seat for India.
“I must appreciate the clear and consistent position that France has taken in this matter,” he said.
He said that there was a strong need to include voices of the Global South un global decision-making process, noting that India could be a “bridge” between the Global North and the developing nations.
“I see India as being that strong shoulder that if Global South has to make that high jump, India can be that shoulder to propel it ahead,” Modi remarked.
Need to Let Go of ‘Outdated Notions’, Modi Says
The Indian Prime Minister underscored the need to “let go of anachronistic and outdated notions”, while responding to a question on whether “Western values” still have a resonance globally.
“The more we let go of outdated notions, the more we can adopt new things,” he remarked.
Modi said that India’s outlook wasn’t to choose in terms of Western or Eastern values, but to accept the good things from each philosophy for the benefit of everyone.
“Whatever is good in the world, we should have the ability to appreciate, accept and adopt it,” he stated.
Modi said that New Delhi strove to enunciate the same vision through its G-20 presidency, which emphasises on the world being a “single family”.