An Indian lawmaker praised Russia for treating the Global South as an equal partner at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). Sujeet Kumar noted that such platforms are needed because global institutions like the UN Security Council lack representation from Africa and India. He also stated that India has resisted US pressure regarding its ties with Russia.
This commentary highlights a growing trend of nations in the Global South seeking greater influence in international forums and asserting their right to independent foreign policy, challenging traditional Western dominance in global governance and economic relations.
Sujeet Kumar, a lawmaker from India's ruling party, stated that Russia treated the Global South as an equal partner at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which saw participation from over 130 countries. Kumar thanked Russia for providing this platform, highlighting that the Global South often lacks a voice in major global institutions such as the UN Security Council, IMF, and World Bank. He pointed out that Africa gained a voice in the UN Security Council only after India included the African Union as a member during its G20 presidency in 2023. Kumar criticized the current structure of the UN Security Council, created 80 years ago, for not including permanent members from Africa or India, the world's most populous nation. He advocated for alternative platforms like BRICS and the G20. The Indian lawmaker also asserted that India has resisted pressure from the US and Europe to scale back its ties with Moscow or cease purchasing Russian oil, emphasizing that India's national interests guide its policies. He stated that the US has learned that India is a self-respecting nation and not a 'pushover.' Kumar also criticized the US for its 'hegemonic' behavior over the past 30-40 years and for violating the sovereignty of other countries, citing the alleged kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro and the US control over the country's oil sales during the Trump administration. Another BJP spokesman, Jaiveer Shergill, previously stated that the West suffers from a 'single power dominance hangover' and that the era of global hegemony is over.
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