INDIA, BRAZIL AND SOUTH AFRICA (IBSA) – INTERNATIONAL
News: India, Brazil, South Africa seek to
amplify the Global South’s voice at IBSA meeting
What's
in the news?
●
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar,
who is visiting the United States, met with his Brazilian and South African
counterparts as part of the IBSA group, to further strengthen South-South
cooperation.
Key
takeaways:
●
India,
Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) vow to uphold independent foreign policies,
voice frustration on paralysis of UNSC reform talks, call for wider Africa,
Asia, Latin America representation on UNSC.
IBSA
(India Brazil South Africa Dialogue):
●
IBSA is a trilateral forum that was established in 2003 by the foreign ministers of India, Brazil, and South Africa.
●
There have been five IBSA Leadership
Summits so far. In 2011, the 5th India Brazil South Africa Dialogue Forum
Summit was held in Pretoria, South Africa.
●
The 6th IBSA Summit will be hosted by
India.
Objective:
●
The forum aims to promote South-South cooperation.
●
It builds consensus on issues of
international importance.
Initiatives
of IBSA:
1.
IBSA Fund:
●
It was established in 2004 and became
operational in 2006 to support
projects on a demand driven basis through partnerships with local governments,
national institutions and implementing partners.
2.
Joint Naval Exercise:
●
The IBSA
Maritime Exercise (IBSAMAR) is an important component of the IBSA
trilateral defence cooperation.
●
IBSAMAR has been held six times so far,
the most recent in October 2018 off the coast of South Africa.
3.
IBSA Fellowship Programme:
●
It focuses on multilateral institutional frameworks for global coordination, support,
and enablement of sustainable development.
●
Cooperative research for cooperation and
information exchange in the sectors of macroeconomics, trade, and development;
and any other area of interest within the IBSA framework.
4.
Trilateral Commission:
●
At the level of foreign ministers, the Brasilia Declaration established a
Trilateral Commission. The Commission holds frequent meetings.