PM Modi Terms India A Strong Shoulder For Global South

International

oi-Deepika S

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the relationship between India and France is in an ‘excellent’ space and stood steady and resilient through the ‘darkest storms’.

PM Modi has embarked on a two-day visit to France at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron. The visit is special as this year marks the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between India and France.

In an interview with the French newspaper Les Echos, PM Modi stated that the relations between the two countries are currently at a turning point and the success of the strategic partnership has been significant in taking the ties forward.

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“India and France’s interests in the Indo-Pacific region are vast, and our engagement is deep. I have described our vision for this region in one word – SAGAR, which stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region. While peace is necessary for the future we seek to build, it is far from assured. India has always stood for peaceful resolution of differences through dialogue and diplomacy, and for respecting sovereignty of all nations, international law and the rules-based international order,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi emphasised India’s rich heritage and the pillars of the country’s soft power.

“It is our civilizational ethos and heritage that provide the basis what could be termed as India’s soft power. We are blessed to have this in abundance. Our exports have never been war and subjugation, but yoga, ayurveda, spirituality, science, mathematics, and Astronomy. We have always been a contributor to global peace and progress,” he told the newspaper.

PM Modi called for the Global South to exhibit collective strength and leadership in order to amplify its voice.

“What I really feel, we need is collective strength and collective leadership for the entire Global South, so that its voice can become more strong and the whole community can take leadership for itself. In order to build this sort of collective leadership, I don’t think India should think in terms of its position as a leader nor do we think of it in that sense,” he told Les Echos.

“It is also true that the rights of the Global South have been long denied. As a result, there is a feeling of anguish among the members of Global South, that they are forced into undertaking action but when it comes to decision making they don’t find a place or voice for themselves,” he added.

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Elucidating his efforts in increasing the Global South’s presence on the international stage, PM Modi said, “In January 2023, at the start of our Presidency of the G20, I convened a summit of the Global South. 125 countries participated. There was unanimity of view, expressed very strongly, that India must forcefully take up the causes of the Global South.”

“During our G20 Presidency, under the theme of One Earth, One Family, One Future, we have made one of the key goals to be the voice of the Global South,” he went on to say.

Story first published: Thursday, July 13, 2023, 11:29 [IST]