India to prove a crucial bridge connecting the Global South

Tokyo – India has played an important role in bringing the voice of the Global South countries to the developed countries after getting the Presidency of the G20. Along with the G20 meetings, India has also presented the expectations of the countries of the Global South at various international forums. China also had assisted the Global South countries in the last few years. However, Japan’s strategic analysts expressed confidence that more than China, India will be a crucial bridge connecting the Global South. These analysts have claimed that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is in India for the G20 summit, will raise the issue.

Until about two decades ago, the G7 was the world’s only powerful organisation of developed countries. Nonetheless, to face the world’s economic challenges, a new organisation was decided to be formed. Accordingly, the G20 group consisting of 19 developed and developing countries and the European Union (EU) was formed. However, underdeveloped countries were not represented in this organisation of top countries in the economic and industrial sectors.

Moreover, India got the Presidency of G20 at the meeting held in Indonesia last year. At the same time, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue of the Global South while playing his role as the host of G20. Also, Prime Minister Modi had underlined that India will become the voice of the Global South comprising countries of Latin America, Africa, the Gulf and the Indo-Pacific region.

India, which believes in ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The World Is One Family), had made it clear that it would represent the Global South. After this, India raised the issue of Global South through G20 and in various meetings at the international level. These efforts of India also received a positive response from the countries of the Global South. Besides, some of these countries had also demanded that India lead them internationally.

Getting restless over this, China claimed it has been leading the Global South for several years. In addition, China had made a big effort to prove its leadership by holding special meetings with African and Gulf countries. However, a strategic analyst, Hiroyuki Akita, has expressed confidence that considering the interests of the Western countries and Japan, India will be a crucial bridge connecting the Global South more than China.

Furthermore, the competition between India and China to lead the Global South has begun. However, Hiroyuki Akita claimed India could lead the group properly in the long run. Additionally, Hiroyuki Akita pointed out that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had invited the Indian Prime Minister as a special guest for the G7 meeting held in Tokyo in May, realising the importance of India in the Global South.

At present, China and Russia are challenging the global system of G7. Akita also said that in such times, India can play an important role in connecting the countries of the Global South to G7 or other organisations.