Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the United Nations to undergo a transformation in alignment with the realities of the 21st century, ensuring the inclusion of voices that hold significance, as revealed in a recently published interview.
Modi, who is set to host a summit of the Group of 20 major economies starting next weekend, expressed that a “mid-20th century approach cannot serve the world in the 21st century.” This message was conveyed to the Press Trust of India news agency.
As the leader of the world’s most populous nation and an aspirant to attain permanent membership in the U.N. Security Council, Modi is actively working to elevate India’s global status and advocate for its causes, including addressing unsustainable debt, utilizing the global platform provided by the G20 summit commencing on September 9.
During the interview, Modi reiterated his backing for the African Union’s aspiration to attain full membership in the G20.
The two-day summit is set to feature one of India’s most prominent guest lists ever, including U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Modi emphasized the need for international institutions to acknowledge evolving realities and reassess their priorities. He stressed the critical importance of ensuring diverse voices are heard, stating, “India’s G20 presidency has also instilled confidence in countries often referred to as the ‘third world.'”
Modi highlighted that India’s G20 presidency has led to the recognition that anti-inflation policies in one country do not adversely affect others.
Inflation disproportionately impacts India’s less privileged citizens. In a Reuters poll, economists have significantly increased their inflation forecasts for this quarter, anticipating that price increases will remain above the central bank’s 6% limit until at least October.
The Indian Prime Minister also called for global collaboration in combating cybercrime, pointing out that “Terrorists utilizing the dark net, metaverse, and cryptocurrency for nefarious purposes can have far-reaching implications for the social fabric of nations.”
