In a significant joint statement issued on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the foreign ministers of India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) delivered a scathing critique of Israel’s ongoing actions against Gaza. India was represented at this crucial meeting by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
Mirroring a recent stance taken by the BRICS group, the IBSA nations also voiced strong objections to unilateral tariffs and other protectionist trade measures.
Their statement explicitly condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza, highlighting the immense suffering endured by the civilian population over nearly two years. The ministers expressed deep concern over the devastating toll of deaths, widespread destruction, forced displacement, and the escalating famine plaguing the territory.
The IBSA ministers reaffirmed Gaza as an integral part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and emphasized the urgent need to unite the West Bank and Gaza Strip under the Palestinian Authority. They pressed for an immediate and complete ceasefire, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the release of all remaining hostages seized by Hamas in October 2023, which ignited the current phase of the conflict.
The group further denounced violations of international human rights law, specifically pointing out that the use of starvation as a method of warfare constitutes a grave breach. Reports indicate that Israel has consistently restricted food and vital humanitarian supplies to Gaza for months, leading to over half a million people facing famine conditions.
IBSA ministers also strongly condemned provocative statements from some allies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding plans to annex the West Bank, expressing serious concern over the proposed imposition of Israeli sovereignty and the intensification of settlement activities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
The joint statement reinforced IBSA’s commitment to a rules-based global trading system, with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core. The ministers conveyed profound concern over unilateral tariffs and protectionist measures, particularly when wielded as tools of coercion. Notably, India and Brazil face exceptionally high tariffs (50% for most goods) on their exports to the U.S., while South Africa encounters a 30% U.S. tariff. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently addressed the UN, lamenting the weaponization of trade against several countries.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), revealed that IBSA had made a robust call for the transformative reform of the UN Security Council. Discussions also covered the IBSA Academic Forum, a proposed maritime exercise, the Trust Fund, and avenues for boosting intra-IBSA trade.
Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, the IBSA joint statement urged all parties to de-escalate, suggesting that nations from the Global South could offer valuable perspectives for a resolution.
The IBSA countries collectively advocated for comprehensive reforms across multilateral institutions, including the United Nations, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund. They reiterated their unwavering support for permanent membership in the UN Security Council for India, Brazil, and African nations.
Beyond the IBSA summit, Minister Jaishankar also co-chaired a meeting with his Colombian counterpart, Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, representing India and CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States). This meeting saw both sides agreeing on the pressing need to reform multilateral institutions to better reflect the interests of the Global South. Additionally, India and the CELAC group pledged to enhance cooperation in areas like Artificial Intelligence, technology, health, and humanitarian and disaster relief efforts.