What this means
IBSA ministers reaffirm South-South cooperation amid push for fairer global order New York, USA — India, Brazil and South Africa have reaffirmed the role of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum as a vehicle for strengthening South-South cooperation and advancing a more representative multilateral system amid growing global geopolitical and economic challenges. The three countries made the commitment during an IBSA Ministerial Meeting hosted by South Africa on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, where International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola chaired discussions with Brazil’s Foreign Minister, Mauro Vieira and India’s Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. South Africa assumed the IBSA chairship for 2026–2027, placing the forum’s priorities within its broader emphasis on peace, development, multilateralism and reform of global governance. IBSA was established in 2003 as a trilateral forum bringing together three major democracies and developing economies from Africa, Asia and Latin America. The forum also operates the IBSA Fund for the Alleviation of Hunger and Poverty, which supports South-South development projects in developing countries. IBSA as a platform for a changing world Opening the meeting, Lamola said South Africa had assumed the chairship with an understanding of both the responsibility attached to the platform and the work undertaken by the three countries over more than two decades. “As like-minded emerging economies, we recognise that we have a collective role to play in addressing and correcting the imbalances in the global economy,” Lamola said. He stressed that IBSA was not directed against other countries but was a platform through which the three countries could advance shared principles and contribute to global governance reform. “IBSA is not a bloc; it's not an alliance against anyone. It is a conversation amongst three democracies of the South, three continents and three regions, three great civilisations, who came to view that the world as it is organised does not reflect the world as it actually is,” the Minister said. Lamola said the current international environment had placed pressure on the principles underpinning multilateral cooperation, including respect for the UN Charter, international law and international humanitarian law. “IBSA exists precisely for this. This is an important platform to strengthen and uphold the United Nations Charter, multilateralism, international law, and international humanitarian law,” he said. He added that defending the existing system was not sufficient and that IBSA should also contribute to reforming global governance. “We must advance the reform of global governance in the direction of more just, equitable, and representative international and multilateral system, a Security Council that reflects the world of today, rather than the world of 1945,” the Minister said. Lamola said this should extend to international financial institutions and the global trading system, with rules applied consistently and equitably. Peace, development and practical cooperation South Africa has placed “peace, prosperity and development” at the centre of its IBSA chairship, drawing the theme from the forum's founding principles. Lamola said the chairship would focus on political engagement, technical cooperation through IBSA working groups and people-to-people exchanges, as well as practical development projects through the IBSA Fund. Among the priorities are cooperation on sustainable energy and ensuring that energy transitions are financed in a manner that does not place developing countries in an impossible position. The countries will also deepen cooperation on poverty alleviation and zero hunger, strengthen foundational learning and future skills, and accelerate cooperation on new technologies. Lamola called for the three countries to align their respective priorities into a common work programme. “We are also aware of the important priorities of Brazil and India. Let us integrate this into one work programme for the coming year, which we can pursue through the working groups,” the Minister said. He said South Africa would also review the existing IBSA working groups to ensure they support the forum's strategic objectives. Brazil backs stronger IBSA coordination Vieira said IBSA brought together three major democracies from three continents with shared principles and the capacity to contribute to a fairer international order. “Few partnerships embody the diversity and political weight of the global South as IBSA, a bridge across three continents, bringing together three major democracies with shared values and a common commitment to building a fairer international order,” Vieira said. He said the international system is facing pressure from the growing use of unilateral measures and the erosion of established multilateral rules. Vieira highlighted trade as a particular area r
