Prime Minister participates in India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders' Meeting in Johannesburg

Overview Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders' Meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa on November 23, 2025 . The meeting, hosted by President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, focused on strengthening cooperation among the three nations and addressing global challenges. Key Developments IBSA's Significance Prime Minister Modi described the meeting as timely, noting its coincidence with the first G20 Summit on African soil. He highlighted that the last three G20 presidencies were held by IBSA members, leading to initiatives focused on human-centric development, multilateral reform, and sustainable growth. IBSA is not just a group of three countries but a platform connecting three continents, major democratic nations, and major economies. Call for Global Governance Reform Prime Minister stressed that global governance institutions are far removed from 21st-century realities. He called on IBSA to send a strong message that reform of institutions, particularly the UN Security Council , is an imperative. Counter-Terrorism Efforts Prime Minister emphasized the need for close coordination in counter-terrorism efforts, advocating for no double standards in fighting terrorism. Technology and Innovation Prime Minister proposed establishing an 'IBSA Digital Innovation Alliance' to facilitate sharing of Digital Public Infrastructure like UPI , health platforms like CoWIN , cybersecurity frameworks, and women-led tech initiatives. He emphasized IBSA's potential to contribute to the development of safe, trustworthy, and human-centric AI norms. He invited IBSA leaders to the AI Impact Summit to be held in India next year. Sustainable Growth and Cooperation Prime Minister stated that IBSA can complement each other's development and become an example for sustainable growth. He highlighted cooperation opportunities in areas such as millets, natural farming, disaster resilience, green energy, traditional medicines, and health security. IBSA Fund Appreciating the IBSA Fund's work in supporting projects across forty countries, Prime Minister proposed IBSA Fund for Climate Resilient Agriculture to further advance South-South cooperation. UPSC Relevance This meeting and its outcomes are relevant for GS2 (International Relations) and GS3 (Economy, Science and Technology) . The focus on South-South cooperation, global governance reform, and digital innovation aligns with key areas of the UPSC syllabus. Key Areas for UPSC Preparation IBSA's Role: Understand the objectives, achievements, and challenges of the IBSA forum. Global Governance Reform: Analyze the need for reform in institutions like the UN Security Council and India's position on this issue. Digital Innovation: Evaluate the potential of digital technologies and platforms in promoting inclusive development and international cooperation. South-South Cooperation: Examine the significance of South-South cooperation in addressing global challenges and promoting sustainable development.