Pitching for strong ties with India, Fiji's Deputy PM Biman Chand Prasad has said that his country would like to "strengthen the relationship, we want a meaningful, deeper engagement".

Pitching for strong ties with India, Fiji's Deputy PM Biman Chand Prasad has said that his country would like to "strengthen the relationship, we want a meaningful, deeper engagement". This is the first high-level visit from Fiji following the formation of the new government under Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in December 2022. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, he said, "India is a global power...India provides leadership to the global south and within the Indo-Pacific strategy, India has an important role and Fiji on the other hand is the hub of the Pacific." He also spoke about his country scrapping the recent security pact with China. He explained that his country, "believes in universal values of freedom, democracy, human rights, rule of law, good governance and we are identifying countries that uphold those values" even as he pointed out his country's ties with Beijing which is a "global power, it has its own system, own ways of doing things". During the India visit, he held talks with EAM Jaishankar, Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs, Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh and attended the first India Energy Week (IEW) 2023. The visit of Deputy Prime Minister Prasad comes a few days before the 12th World Hindi Conference which will be jointly hosted by India and Fiji in Nadi, Fiji, from February 15-17, 2023. The visiting Deputy PM also lauded his countries' ties with Australia highlighting how "Australia does provide that confidence to many of those pacific island countries in terms of how we can deal with the challenges". Full interview: WION: India Fiji relationship is a relationship which has a historical background, its close relationship and Fiji has an important role in the wider Indo-Pacific as well. With me being the deputy Prime Minister of Fiji to talk about this relationship let me start with how you see this relationship currently, how will you characterize this relationship in the current era at a time when geopolitics is changing so fast? Biman Prasad: Fiji considers India as an old and historical friend, a friend whose values are universal, which beliefs in democracy, human rights, media freedom, rule of law and practice of good governance. The relationship that the current government would like to build is to strengthen the relationship, we want a meaningful, deeper engagement with India. As you said rightly, India is a global power, more so as stated by EAM Jaishankar himself, India provides leadership to the global south and within the Indo-Pacific strategy, India has an important role and Fiji, on the other hand, is the hub of the Pacific. It is one of the most developed economies, can if it wants to, this new govt will do it is to play a much more influential role in the Pacific region. I can tell, our PM Sitiveni Rabuka visited Kiribati. Kiribati had decided through other influences to leave the Pacific island forum, which is the form of political leaders within the region. Kiribati is back in the forum and Fiji play a very important role and strengthening the Indo-Pacific strategy and go economic strategy, Fiji and India with the other three countries --Australia, Japan and US will play an important role. WION: How do you see Fiji's centrality in the Pacific? Biman Prasad: India is a global power, India has a lot to offer, India is the largest democracy, and more importantly India provides a lot of cutting-edge entrepreneurship, and innovation in the whole area of energy, climate change and I saw this in the India energy week summit in Bangalore, the kind of products India is developing is very very interesting. For small island states and many others from the developing world, India can provide that leading role in developing climate-friendly, climate-resilient infrastructure. Contribute to the whole process of decarbonization, looking at alternative sources of energy. WION: There have been worries for Indian origin people in Fiji, there has been a past, how can you assure on that Biman Prasad: Those people who look at the compartmentalization, perhaps get it wrong sometimes. We have a 143-year history in that country, by and large, we had political problems, we had coups, and we had challenges but by and large indigenous community and major other community--the Indo-Fijian community have worked together for 143 years, they get together by and large, do things together and there a leadership commitment especially with this govt to ensure we run very inclusive, open, transparent govt where everybody feels, the philosophy of the new govt is working together in partnership. It is about consultation and dialogue, I don't see any threat, we don't see, we have different ethnic, and cultural practices. In fact the new govt has decided on an indigenous language and Hindi to be a very prominent language. We have just decided that both languages will be allowed to be used in Parliament. So I could go to Parliament and speak in Hindi. So, some of those concerns are misplaced, it is coming from those people who think they can exploit racial sensitivities and challenges and unfortunately that is not the case with this govt. WION: How important World Hindi conference is for your government if you can answer that in Hindi? Biman Prasad: (He answered in Hindi, this is a translation of that) The world Hindi conference that will take place in Fiji is very historic because the Indian-origin people who have settled in Fiji under the girmit process, their language, and culture is linked with India. Hindi is being used in our country for the last 143 years, and Hindi is being taught in schools. While the school system had a few issues, the new govt is giving Hindi and Adivasi languages a priority. World Hindi conference is taking place at an opportune time, a time at which Hindi is being promoted by our Govt. EAM Jaishankar will be travelling to Fiji, other people are coming from India. People from countries with Indian diasporas, like Suriname, Trinidad, Mauritius, and Guyana are also coming. It's a nice thing that we are hosting these meetings. WION: If you can also sum up India-Fiji ties in Hindi Biman Prasad: (He answered in Hindi, this is a translation of that) India and Fiji have historic ties, and our govt will promote that, we believe that India today is a strong nation economically, politically, and strategically. India is a leader, and Fiji, a small country can have a lot of opportunities is we work with your country. This is our agenda and our govt's focus. I am happy, to be in India and my conversations here with EAM Jaishankar and other ministers have been very successful. #WIONExclusive | Fiji considers India an old friend with values that are universal. While Fiji is the hub of the Pacific, India is a global power, and we want to strengthen this relation: Fiji’s Deputy PM Biman Chand Prasad tells @sidhant Watch more: https://t.co/dm7SyC0z2e pic.twitter.com/5K62qqC8Bi — WION (@WIONews) February 9, 2023 × WION: What do you expect from New Delhi in terms of the development partnership, in sectors like health and defence? Biman Prasad: I had a discussion with EAM Jaishankar on a range of issues, which include health, energy, and IT, and India's e-governance program is quite extensive. I have understood the extensive nature of India's e-governance program, and the way in which it has contributed to the efficiency of governance in India has been very good. For sure, India has a lot to offer in that area and that is one area in which Fiji would like to work with India. We believe that Indian eco, which is the fastest growing economy in the world today and it has a lot to offer to the world today. Fiji is an ideal hub, so Indian companies, Indian investment, investors could use Fiji to get into the larger pacific region. PM Modi visited Fiji in 2014, he instituted the India-Fiji cooperation, and the India Pacific island meeting, 2 have taken place--One in 2014 in Fiji, another one in Jaipur and 3rd one in Papua New Guinea. The engagement of the Pacific with India, including Fiji has been on the right trajectory. WION: So the third India Pacific island forum meet is in Papua New Guinea, any month we are looking at. Biman Prasad: It is being planned for this year WION: On defence what kind of cooperation we are looking at? Biman Prasad: Current PM of Fiji, studied in India in a defence college. We have had engagements in the past and I am sure when the honourable EAM is in Fiji, there will be some discussions in those areas as well WION: Fiji has scrapped the security pact with China, what is the reason for that? Biman Prasad: It is simple, we have had historical relations with our traditional partners, and as I said this is the govt that believes in universal values of freedom, democracy, human rights, rule of law, good governance and we are identifying countries those uphold those values. Fiji always had a relationship. China is a global power, it has its own system, own ways of doing things, own challenges. In the Pacific, we have countries, like we have our own diplomatic relationship with China. That is there, our focus, and focus of many pacific island countries who believe in universal values and working with our traditional partners is going to give them confidence to address some of the more pressing issues like impact of climate change, extreme weather patterns, many of these pacific island countries have vulnerable economies, from that point of view. These are the countries who have stood by us, and strengthening relationships with them will be beneficial not only in the short to medium term but also in the long term. WION: You think China will be annoyed by the scrapping of the pact? Biman Prasad: I am not sure of that, not for me to say. Of course, different countries perceive different relationships, and different configurations, where countries place themselves with others. As far as Fiji is concerned, we have said very clearly that our foreign policy, our economic agenda is tied to universal values and tied to idea of free Indo-Pacific region, inclusive Indo-Pacific and region based on some of these principles. That gives us natural affiliation to countries, and India is part of the Indo-Pacific strategic, Fiji is part of that, and we believe that the Indo-Pacific economic strategy will be very very beneficial for the Pacific in the long term. WION: But do you think, Pacific has become the centre of geopolitical tensions with US, China? Biman Prasad: There will always be that kind of tension, that kind of contest for influence. It is up to us in the region, as I said Pacific forum which is the forum for the leaders to discuss some of the fundamental issues. Region is united in the pursuit of a free pacific, free from any kind of influence that will disintegrate into divisions, there have been some attempts in that area but by and large Pacific is united in terms of the Pacific forum. Fiji's PM will provide that leadership and have demonstrated that, and he is a seasoned politician and worked with many of the leaders of the region and leaders beyond the pacific. We are very confident that the current Fijian govt, will further unite the region and provide a solid framework to address some of the fundamental challenges faced by Pacific island countries. WION: But will you agree with the statement that China has been an aggressive force in the Indo-Pacific and is behind lot of problems in your region? Biman Prasad: Well, you can say that I don't know if the term aggressive is a right term is. I think, China is a big country and influences and own ways of doing things but equally important are other countries that are influential. India is a global leader, you have Japan, and Australia. Australia's aid motivation in the Pacific has been very very positive for a very long time. We believe that apart from India, Japan, and the US, --Australia has been at the forefront in terms of the Indo pacific strategy, in terms of the whole Idea-free Indo pacific region. The pacific leaders, we in Fiji have lot of confidence, not only in our relationship with India but also with Australia. Because Australia does provide that confidence to many of those pacific island countries in terms of how we can deal with the challenges, so yes, power will do whatever they have to do but, we have our strategy, our own ways of doing things. WION: Your comments on Indo Pacific, how do you see it as, and role of Japan Biman Prasad: The Indo-Pacific strategy and gathering of the 4 very important countries- India, Japan, US, and Australia, we don't see that as some kind of new grouping. We see them as, more determined, and more organised approaches towards dealing with some of the challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region. We believe that there has been a weakening of democracy around the world, within the Indo pacific region and within the Pacific region. Part of the philosophy behind the Indo-Pacific strategy, excites us, we have fought for democracy over the last several years, the government we have now is working towards strengthening democracy, not only in Fiji but beyond Fiji in the Pacific. So, there is a direct link between our objective of a democratic region with what is being offered by Indo pacific leaders, such as countries like India, Japan, US, and Australia. We don't see it as a new thing, but we see it as reconvening of mind, agenda in to making the region more free, democratic, and based on universal values. WION: How does Fiji sees the Quad? Countries are saying Quad is Asian Nato, will you agree with it? Biman Prasad: I don't think Fiji sees it that way, I don't see it that way in an economic point of view. As an economic strategy its a very good grouping, these are our major partners. What they do in terms of crisis, trade, tourism--Australia is our largest source market for tourism, it our largest contributor to budget support and role played during covid, these are exemplary examples of relationship that we build over so many years with these countries including the US. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Fiji Deputy PM says India provides leadership to Global South, bats for Indo-Pacific

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi weighed in on several issues when he spoke during the concluding leaders' session of The Voice of Global South Summit on Friday (January 12).&nbsp;PM Modi said that India sees the whole world as one family and the global south appreciates the principle of globalisation. He said that the south wants human-centric globalisation, which aims at bringing prosperity and well-being to humanity.&nbsp;

The Indian prime minister urged for having diversified global supply chains and finding ways to link developing countries to these value chains.&nbsp;

PM Modi said the summit agreed on the importance of south-south cooperation and also discussed why is it necessary to shape the global agenda collectively.&nbsp;

He said, "In the field of health, we share an emphasis on promoting traditional medicine, developing regional hubs for healthcare and improving the mobility of health professionals."&nbsp;

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"Voice of Global South Summit" has seen fruitful deliberations. My remarks at the closing ceremony. <a href="https://t.co/qoGyiHroKl">https://t.co/qoGyiHroKl</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1613910543873748994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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PM Modi said that the deployment of digital public goods can increase financial inclusion in developing countries at great scale and speed in the area of banking and finance.&nbsp;

"India's own experience has shown this. We all agree on the importance of investing in connectivity infrastructure," he said.&nbsp;

During his virtual address, PM Modi said, "We all appreciate the principle of globalisation. India has always seen the world as one family. Developing countries desire globalisation that does not create a climate crisis, does not lead to unequal vaccine distribution or over-concentrated global supply chains."&nbsp;

He added, "We want globalisation that brings prosperity and well-being to humanity. We want a human-centric globalisation."

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi weighed in on several issues when he spoke during the concluding leaders' session of The Voice of Global South Summit on Friday (January 12).

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi weighed in on several issues when he spoke during the concluding leaders' session of The Voice of Global South Summit on Friday (January 12). PM Modi said that India sees the whole world as one family and the global south appreciates the principle of globalisation. He said that the south wants human-centric globalisation, which aims at bringing prosperity and well-being to humanity. The Indian prime minister urged for having diversified global supply chains and finding ways to link developing countries to these value chains. PM Modi said the summit agreed on the importance of south-south cooperation and also discussed why is it necessary to shape the global agenda collectively. He said, "In the field of health, we share an emphasis on promoting traditional medicine, developing regional hubs for healthcare and improving the mobility of health professionals." "Voice of Global South Summit" has seen fruitful deliberations. My remarks at the closing ceremony. https://t.co/qoGyiHroKl — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 13, 2023 × PM Modi said that the deployment of digital public goods can increase financial inclusion in developing countries at great scale and speed in the area of banking and finance. "India's own experience has shown this. We all agree on the importance of investing in connectivity infrastructure," he said. During his virtual address, PM Modi said, "We all appreciate the principle of globalisation. India has always seen the world as one family. Developing countries desire globalisation that does not create a climate crisis, does not lead to unequal vaccine distribution or over-concentrated global supply chains." He added, "We want globalisation that brings prosperity and well-being to humanity. We want a human-centric globalisation." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

PM Narendra Modi says Global South wants human-centric globalisation

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Voice of the Global South Summit this week and pitched for fair play, equality and cooperation in the relationship between developing and developed countries, I could not help asking myself: So what's really new?

There's nothing new in essence and intent as developing countries urge the advanced countries to 'redesign" global political and financial governance, to ease inequalities, boost opportunities, support growth and spread progress and prosperity. Modi even called for creating a "new world order" to help developing countries.

That sounds a lot like old wine in a new bottle unless you take a nuanced view. While the term "Global South" is an increasingly fashionable term to group less developed countries, it no longer necessarily talks of Asian, African or Latin American nations but any place that is a socio-economic or industrial laggard including East Europe and substantial parts of the former Soviet Union.&nbsp;

But there's a tiring familiarity in the term 'new world order' that needs to be addressed.

In fact a 'New International Economic Order" that spoke of a fair deal for non-Western economies was proposed by Algerian president Houari Boumédiene in 1974 in the United Nations and Prime Minister Hedi Nouira from neighbour Tunisia proposed a New World (International) Information Order in the same year to correct Western media and other biases in priorities and coverage of news.

The Group of 77 had already been formed a decade earlier in 1964 like a trade union of developing countries to seek better prices for commodities and semi-finished industrial products. The now-defunct Non Aligned Movement (NAM) of countries steering clear of Soviet or US domination in the Cold War years was only marginally different from the current alliance of Global South countries in emphasizing sovereignty of nations.

Now let's take a look at what indeed has changed

<ol>
	<li>Countries like India and China are now at the high table of global economics, the G-20. Their products compete with Western products and their giants are acquiring American and European companies.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) make up an intermediate club of emerging economies integrated into the world market in varying degrees.</li>
	<li>Post-colonial talk of plunder and exploitation by former colonial powers makes less of a moral case for aid or support where emerging economies are growth leaders.</li>
	<li>Climate change complicates inter-linkages between economies in deciding who will pay the price for inequalities and denial of opportunities.</li>
	<li>Democracy is officially more pervasive but many countries still do not encourage dissent, opposition or liberalism. Crackdowns by authorities on dissent are common.</li>
	<li>Shades of resurgent nationalism in Turkey, China, India and above all Russia after the Ukraine war make it difficult for a North-South dialogue to make sense when cultural supremacy marks domestic policies in some countries.</li>
</ol>

Three decades have passed and his words ring truer. You don't help or support your competitors.&nbsp;

Also, some emerging economies are now high-tech hubs or high-value manufacturers. They build glamorous airports or stage global events like the Olympics or Formula One motor races.

Such imagery snacks of pride and vanity.&nbsp;

Colonial-era nationalism was about seeking justice. Contemporary jingoism, especially one in which domestic inequalities are visible to the international community, raises new questions on whether governments necessarily represent their poorer citizens.

The new international economic order and its information equivalent were criticised even in the 1970s and 1980s in the West. &nbsp;

Criticism may be muted now as countries seek better bilateral relations, but ground realities are such that developed countries have their own internal economic problems that pressure elected governments. Any call from the Global South must carry higher credibility to make sense.

And let us not forget one big change that has occurred. The Internet has substantially metamorphosed the information and media landscape. The New International Information Order is already here with non-Western media entities, websites and TV news channels providing alternative narratives. &nbsp;

But there's a fine line dividing narrative from propaganda and smart minds are everywhere to see through them. Post-colonial goodwill is a thing of the past for developing countries.&nbsp;

Sovereign countries need credible democracy and equity within to plead for a fair world order. Here's where the Voice of the Global South is now in a different world. The concept is old, the context is not.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

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&nbsp;

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Voice of the Global South Summit this week and pitched for fair play, equality and cooperation in the relationship between developing and developed countries, I could not help asking myself: So what's really new?

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Voice of the Global South Summit this week and pitched for fair play, equality and cooperation in the relationship between developing and developed countries, I could not help asking myself: So what's really new? There's nothing new in essence and intent as developing countries urge the advanced countries to 'redesign" global political and financial governance, to ease inequalities, boost opportunities, support growth and spread progress and prosperity. Modi even called for creating a "new world order" to help developing countries. That sounds a lot like old wine in a new bottle unless you take a nuanced view. While the term "Global South" is an increasingly fashionable term to group less developed countries, it no longer necessarily talks of Asian, African or Latin American nations but any place that is a socio-economic or industrial laggard including East Europe and substantial parts of the former Soviet Union. But there's a tiring familiarity in the term 'new world order' that needs to be addressed. In fact a 'New International Economic Order" that spoke of a fair deal for non-Western economies was proposed by Algerian president Houari Boumédiene in 1974 in the United Nations and Prime Minister Hedi Nouira from neighbour Tunisia proposed a New World (International) Information Order in the same year to correct Western media and other biases in priorities and coverage of news. The Group of 77 had already been formed a decade earlier in 1964 like a trade union of developing countries to seek better prices for commodities and semi-finished industrial products. The now-defunct Non Aligned Movement (NAM) of countries steering clear of Soviet or US domination in the Cold War years was only marginally different from the current alliance of Global South countries in emphasizing sovereignty of nations. Now let's take a look at what indeed has changed Countries like India and China are now at the high table of global economics, the G-20. Their products compete with Western products and their giants are acquiring American and European companies. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) make up an intermediate club of emerging economies integrated into the world market in varying degrees. Post-colonial talk of plunder and exploitation by former colonial powers makes less of a moral case for aid or support where emerging economies are growth leaders. Climate change complicates inter-linkages between economies in deciding who will pay the price for inequalities and denial of opportunities. Democracy is officially more pervasive but many countries still do not encourage dissent, opposition or liberalism. Crackdowns by authorities on dissent are common. Shades of resurgent nationalism in Turkey, China, India and above all Russia after the Ukraine war make it difficult for a North-South dialogue to make sense when cultural supremacy marks domestic policies in some countries. Three decades have passed and his words ring truer. You don't help or support your competitors. Also, some emerging economies are now high-tech hubs or high-value manufacturers. They build glamorous airports or stage global events like the Olympics or Formula One motor races. Such imagery snacks of pride and vanity. Colonial-era nationalism was about seeking justice. Contemporary jingoism, especially one in which domestic inequalities are visible to the international community, raises new questions on whether governments necessarily represent their poorer citizens. The new international economic order and its information equivalent were criticised even in the 1970s and 1980s in the West. Criticism may be muted now as countries seek better bilateral relations, but ground realities are such that developed countries have their own internal economic problems that pressure elected governments. Any call from the Global South must carry higher credibility to make sense. And let us not forget one big change that has occurred. The Internet has substantially metamorphosed the information and media landscape. The New International Information Order is already here with non-Western media entities, websites and TV news channels providing alternative narratives. But there's a fine line dividing narrative from propaganda and smart minds are everywhere to see through them. Post-colonial goodwill is a thing of the past for developing countries. Sovereign countries need credible democracy and equity within to plead for a fair world order. Here's where the Voice of the Global South is now in a different world. The concept is old, the context is not. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Global South needs a reality check: Concept is the same but the context is not

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday during his opening remarks at the Voice of Global South Summit underscored the importance of the Global South and the stake it holds in the future of the planet with “three-fourths of humanity” living in these countries. Virtually addressing the first session of the two-day special summit, he also told the leaders of other developing nations that their voice is the voice of India, and so are their priorities.&nbsp;

Addressing the inaugural session of the summit titled ‘Voice of Global South: For human-centric development,’ Modi said that in the last century, “We supported each other in the fight against foreign rule and we can do it again in this century to create a new world order that will ensure the welfare of our citizens,” adding, “your voice is India’s voice and your priorities are India’s priorities.”

Watch |&nbsp;Indian Prime Minister addresses Voice of Global South Summit

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The two-day summit, as per ANI, attempts to bring together countries of the ‘Global South’. The theme of this summit is “Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose” and it envisages bringing together more than 120 participating countries for the purpose of sharing perspectives and priorities on one platform.
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We, the Global South, have the largest stakes in the future. <a href="https://t.co/pgA3LfGcHu">pic.twitter.com/pgA3LfGcHu</a>
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1613394757551628288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Modi presented the principle of ‘Respond, Recognise, Respect and Reform’ to “re-energise the world.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mohan-bhagwat-chief-of-influential-hindu-group-rss-supports-lgbtq-community-551696">Mohan Bhagwat, chief of influential Hindu group RSS, expresses support to LGBTQ community</a>

Expanding on it, he said, “Respond to the priorities of the Global South by framing an inclusive and balanced international agenda. Recognise that the principle of ‘Common but Differentiated Responsibilities’ applies to all global challenges. Respect sovereignty of all nations, rule of law and peaceful resolution of differences and disputes; and Reform international institutions, including the United Nations, to make them more relevant.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-defence-ministry-approves-proposals-for-equipment-worth-over-500mn-for-army-navy-551202">India: Defence ministry approves proposals of equipment worth over $500mn for Army, Navy</a>

The Indian PM further asserted that in spite of the challenges faced by the developing world he remains optimistic “that our time is coming,” and that for now, the “need of the hour is to identify simple, scalable and sustainable solutions that can transform our societies and economies. With such an approach, we shall overcome the difficult challenges- whether it is poverty, universal healthcare or building human capacities.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday during his opening remarks at the Voice of Global South Summit underscored the importance of the Global South and the stake it holds in the future of the planet with “three-fourths of humanity” living in these countries.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday during his opening remarks at the Voice of Global South Summit underscored the importance of the Global South and the stake it holds in the future of the planet with “three-fourths of humanity” living in these countries. Virtually addressing the first session of the two-day special summit, he also told the leaders of other developing nations that their voice is the voice of India, and so are their priorities. Addressing the inaugural session of the summit titled ‘Voice of Global South: For human-centric development,’ Modi said that in the last century, “We supported each other in the fight against foreign rule and we can do it again in this century to create a new world order that will ensure the welfare of our citizens,” adding, “your voice is India’s voice and your priorities are India’s priorities.” Watch | Indian Prime Minister addresses Voice of Global South Summit The two-day summit, as per ANI, attempts to bring together countries of the ‘Global South’. The theme of this summit is “Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose” and it envisages bringing together more than 120 participating countries for the purpose of sharing perspectives and priorities on one platform. We, the Global South, have the largest stakes in the future. pic.twitter.com/pgA3LfGcHu — PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 12, 2023 × Modi presented the principle of ‘Respond, Recognise, Respect and Reform’ to “re-energise the world.” Also read | Mohan Bhagwat, chief of influential Hindu group RSS, expresses support to LGBTQ community Expanding on it, he said, “Respond to the priorities of the Global South by framing an inclusive and balanced international agenda. Recognise that the principle of ‘Common but Differentiated Responsibilities’ applies to all global challenges. Respect sovereignty of all nations, rule of law and peaceful resolution of differences and disputes; and Reform international institutions, including the United Nations, to make them more relevant.” Also read | India: Defence ministry approves proposals of equipment worth over $500mn for Army, Navy The Indian PM further asserted that in spite of the challenges faced by the developing world he remains optimistic “that our time is coming,” and that for now, the “need of the hour is to identify simple, scalable and sustainable solutions that can transform our societies and economies. With such an approach, we shall overcome the difficult challenges- whether it is poverty, universal healthcare or building human capacities.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Our time is coming': Indian PM Modi expresses hope for countries of the Global South at special summit

The emerging humanitarian crisis that has been rocking Myanmar - where an estimated 370,000 Rohingya <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/security-council-discuss-rohingya-situation-170912083144394.html">have been forced out of the country</a> &ndash; has prompted broad <a href="http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/myanmar-faces-mounting-pressure-over-rohingya-refugee-exodus.aspx?pageID=238&amp;nID=117896&amp;NewsCatID=356">international condemnation</a>. But so far it has translated into <a href="https://theconversation.com/rohingya-genocide-the-world-cant-help-until-myanmar-changes-its-ways-83588">little concrete action</a>.

United Nations (UN) human rights chief Zeid Raad Al Hussein has called the Rohingya&rsquo;s plight a <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41224108">&ldquo;textbook example of ethnic cleansing&rdquo;</a> following a similar <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-rohingya-un/u-n-chief-warns-myanmar-violence-could-destabilize-region-idUSKCN1BG2KC">statement from UN Secretary General Ant&oacute;nio Guterres</a>. While Western countries have been slow and hesitant to respond, leaders of Muslim-majority countries &ndash; particularly Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Pakistan &ndash; have sought to place as much international pressure as possible on <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/05/asia/rohingya-mass-protest-report/index.html">the Myanmar government</a>.

The strongest and most vocal response of all has come from Turkey. Indeed the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, appears to have appointed himself as the international voice of the Rohingya Muslims.

Turkey&rsquo;s aid response

According to a Turkish government statement, Erdogan is the first one that managed to get permission for humanitarian aid to enter <a href="http://thenewturkey.org/myanmar-allows-turkeys-tika-to-distribute-1000-tons-of-aid-to-rohingya/">Myanmar</a>. The Burmese government had, at the peak of the violence, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/04/myanmar-blocks-all-un-aid-to-civilians-at-heart-of-rohingya-crisis">blocked all UN aid</a> towards the Rohingyas.

And so, <a href="https://www.samaa.tv/international/2017/09/first-turkish-aid-shipment-arrives-myanmar-rohingya-muslims/">on September 7</a>, Turkey&rsquo;s foreign aid agency, TIKA, became the first foreign outfit to deliver an initial shipment of 1000 tons of basic <a href="http://www.tika.gov.tr/en/news/tika_will_be_the_first_foreign_body_to_provide_aid_to_rohingya_muslims-37760">foodstuffs and medicine</a> to the conflict zone in Rakhine state, where the majority of Rohingyas live.

Turkey simultaneously announced plans to distribute humanitarian aid to the Rohingya camps <a href="https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/228149-Myanmar-allows-Turkey-to-deliver-aid-to-Rohingya-Muslims-spokesman">in Bangladesh</a>. The move was widely publicised as Emine Erdogan, the Turkish president&rsquo;s wife <a href="https://www.trtworld.com/asia/turkey-s-first-lady-visits-rohingya-refugees-in-bangladesh-10295">visited the camps at the same time</a>.

Public denunciation

Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2017/09/10/534693/Iran-Kazakhstan-Myanmar-Rohingya-Muslims-OIC-summit-Astana">during a meeting in Astana</a>, Kazakhstan, Erdogan as the current chief of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) formally condemned Myanmar&rsquo;s attitude towards Rohingyas, taking the lead on the topic on behalf of the organisation. He had previously called the ongoing violence <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/02/erdogan-accuses-myanmar-of-genocide-against-rohingya">a genocide</a>.

Since the crisis broke on August 25, the Turkish president has taken several actions to gather Muslim leaders across the world to put pressure on the Myanmar government. On August 31, he spoke with the leaders of Mauritania, Pakistan, Iran and Qatar urging them <a href="http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/president-erdogan-calls-on-muslim-countries-leaders-to-act-on-rohingya-muslims.aspx?pageID=238&amp;nID=117421&amp;NewsCatID=357">to join forces to find a way</a> to stop the violence against the Rohingyas.

Alongside Erdogan, other Turkish politicians have addressed the issue. Remarks by Mevl&uuml;t &Ccedil;avusoglu, the foreign minister, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-rohingya-turkey/myanmars-rohingya-suffered-for-years-need-lasting-solution-turkey-idUSKCN1BH1CC">garnered global attention</a>. Mehmet Simsek, deputy prime minister, even tweeted unrelated images to raise the point, creating a <a href="https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/turkish-deputy-pm-denounced-misleading-twitter-pictures-rakhine-conflict.html">bit of an embarrassment</a>.

So how are we to explain Turkey&rsquo;s ambition to take the lead in this current crisis?

Global ambitions

The political vacuum prompted by the Trump administration&rsquo;s retreat from global leadership has <a href="https://www.economist.com/news/china/21723129-not-long-chinese-officials-remain-shy-world-stage-will-china-fill-vacuum-left">surely played a part</a>. But, more evidently, Turkey&rsquo;s longstanding pro-Western approach has shifted. Turkey is a NATO member and aspired to join the EU for years, but under President Erdogan&rsquo;s lead and the current AKP government, the country&rsquo;s foreign policy <a href="https://theconversation.com/shunned-by-the-west-and-menaced-by-syria-turkish-foreign-policy-turns-south-71828">has shifted towards the global south</a>, seeking new opportunities.

Turkey&rsquo;s foreign policy doctrine now promotes what Bilkent University academics Pinar Bilgen and Ali Bilgi&ccedil; label <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2747/1539-7216.52.2.173?src=recsys">&ldquo;civilisational geopolitics&rdquo;</a>, &ldquo;an understanding of culture and civilisation as preordained determinants of international behaviour&rdquo;.

As Bilgin and Bilgi&ccedil; argue, this new doctrine aims at placing Turkey at the core of geopolitical issues between the West and the rest of Asia, justifying this global engagement by its political heritage &ndash; mainly based on its<a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/turks-across-empires-9780198725145?cc=gb&amp;lang=en&amp;"> Central Asian and Ottoman history</a>.

The shift became most obvious at the end of the 2000s. It has been identified most closely with Ahmet Davutoglu, a scholar of geopolitics and Turkey&rsquo;s foreign minister from 2009&ndash;14. In 2010 Foreign Policy called him &ldquo;<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20101212215853/http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/11/29/the_fp_top_100_global_thinkers?page=0%2C6">the brains of Turkey&rsquo;s global reawakening</a>&rdquo;.

Under Davutoglu&rsquo;s watch, Turkey&rsquo;s global diplomatic footprint expanded dramatically, especially in Asia and Africa. He opened Turkey&rsquo;s first embassy in Myanmar in 2012 both to take advantage of the potential trade opportunities from the country&rsquo;s post-2008 liberalisation and because of the <a href="https://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/08/09/231258.html">Rohingya issue</a>.

A subsequent <a href="http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/foreign-minister-davutoglu-visits-myanmars-muslim-minority-in-arakan.aspx?PageID=238&amp;NID=58019&amp;NewsCatID=356%5D">trip in 2013 </a> saw him tour refugee camps and call on the Burmese government to extend citizenship rights to the Rohingya people. This new foreign policy coincides with Turkey&rsquo;s decade-long ambition to become a global humanitarian power or what Turkish scholars E. Fuat Keyman and Onur Zakak call a <a href="http://research.sabanciuniv.edu/31364/1/keyman-turkey-as-a-humanitarian-state.pdf">&ldquo;humanitarian state&rdquo;</a>.

The Turkish humanitarian approach has been cast by journalist and former Somali Minister of Planning, Abdirahman Ali, as a middle way between the Western aid model and its <a href="http://file.insightturkey.com/Files/Pdf/insight_turkey_vol_13_no_4_-2011_ali.pdf">Chinese counterpart</a>. Whereas the former is highly conditional, bureaucratic and often security-focused and the latter tends to bolster corrupt ,authoritarian regimes, the Turkish approach - Ali claims - typically bypasses bureaucracy and emphasises &ldquo;a &lsquo;moral&rsquo; standard anchored in protecting human rights and helping the weak&rdquo;.

Turkey has backed this ambition with increased funding for humanitarian assistance over the last five years. Development Initiatives &ndash; a UK based NGO &ndash; <a href="https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2017/06/21/turkey-ranks-second-in-the-world-for-humanitarian-aid-named-most-generous-donor">recently reported</a> that now Turkey ranks second in the world for humanitarian aid, having spent around US$6 billion in 2016 (the top-ranked US spent $6.3 billion).

The champion of Muslims&rsquo; rights

One of the other factors is domestic politics. Indeed, much of Erdogan&rsquo;s public posturing on the Rohingya issue is entirely self-serving. The image of a strong Turkey reaching out to Muslim&rsquo;s everywhere in the world&ndash; plays very <a href="http://www.atimes.com/article/what-turkey-expects-from-myanmars-new-govt/">well at home</a>. During his 15-year tenure as Turkey&rsquo;s leader, the country&rsquo;s once-marginalised pious Muslim citizens have become increasingly prominent <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/18/world/europe/turkeys-islamic-fashion-revolution.html?_r=1">in media</a>, <a href="http://foreignpolicy.com/2010/03/19/the-happy-story-of-the-anatolian-tigers-2/">business</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/31/turkey-female-mps-headscarves-parliament-end-ban">politics</a>.

Ardent supporters in Turkey &ndash; not to mention large segments of public opinion across <a href="https://www2.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2016/0720/Turkey-s-failed-coup-In-Arab-world-the-rulers-and-the-ruled-react-differently">the Muslim world</a> &ndash; thus see him as a champion of Muslim rights everywhere.

Erdogan has studiously crafted this image throughout other crisis, such as in <a href="http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2093090,00.html">Egypt&rsquo;s during the 2011-12 Morsi regime</a> or in <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/05/erdogan-calls-israel-policy-palestinians-racist-170508170923015.html">Palestine</a>. His very public spats <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/sep/22/recep-tayyip-erdogan-arabhero-turkey">with Israel</a> and <a href="https://www.memri.org/reports/anti-west-statements-turkish-president-erdogan-and-pm-davutoglu-muslim-countries-must-unite">the West</a> have led some pro-Palestinian columnists <a href="http://turkishpolicy.com/Files/ArticlePDF/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-turkish-model-in-the-arab-world-fall-2013-en.pdf">in Arabic newspapers to call him the &ldquo;new Nasser</a>&rdquo;.

Competition ahead

Nevertheless, in recent days there has been a modest push back from Saudi Arabia, which appears to be chaffing at Turkey&rsquo;s leadership on the crisis. Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s ambassador to Turkey released a statement emphasising the Kingdom&rsquo;s strong, decades-long <a href="http://www.arabnews.com/node/1158161/saudi-arabia">support for the Rohingyas</a>. Iran has followed too, <a href="http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/09/iran-turkey-myanmar-rohingya-muslims-aid-refugees.html">promising shipments</a> to reach Myanmar soon.

Erdogan has promised to raise the Rohingya issue on September 19, at the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly &ndash; <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-41250057">which Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is avoiding</a>.

<img alt="The Conversation" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/83854/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" width="1" />His calls to protect Muslims worldwide could be a key moment for Turkey&rsquo;s diplomatic leadership but whether other Muslim countries would follow or not will tell the limits of Turkey&rsquo;s so-called &ldquo;humanitarian politics&rdquo;.

&nbsp;

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" nofollow="" rel="">The Conversation</a>. Read the original<a href="https://theconversation.com/turkey-the-rohingya-crisis-and-erdogans-ambitions-to-be-a-global-muslim-leader-83854" nofollow="" rel=""> article</a>.

&nbsp;

Turkey's new foreign policy coincides with the country's decade-long ambition to become a global humanitarian power

The emerging humanitarian crisis that has been rocking Myanmar - where an estimated 370,000 Rohingya have been forced out of the country – has prompted broad international condemnation. But so far it has translated into little concrete action. United Nations (UN) human rights chief Zeid Raad Al Hussein has called the Rohingya’s plight a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing” following a similar statement from UN Secretary General António Guterres. While Western countries have been slow and hesitant to respond, leaders of Muslim-majority countries – particularly Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Pakistan – have sought to place as much international pressure as possible on the Myanmar government. The strongest and most vocal response of all has come from Turkey. Indeed the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, appears to have appointed himself as the international voice of the Rohingya Muslims. Turkey’s aid response According to a Turkish government statement, Erdogan is the first one that managed to get permission for humanitarian aid to enter Myanmar. The Burmese government had, at the peak of the violence, blocked all UN aid towards the Rohingyas. And so, on September 7, Turkey’s foreign aid agency, TIKA, became the first foreign outfit to deliver an initial shipment of 1000 tons of basic foodstuffs and medicine to the conflict zone in Rakhine state, where the majority of Rohingyas live. Turkey simultaneously announced plans to distribute humanitarian aid to the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh. The move was widely publicised as Emine Erdogan, the Turkish president’s wife visited the camps at the same time. Public denunciation Meanwhile, during a meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, Erdogan as the current chief of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) formally condemned Myanmar’s attitude towards Rohingyas, taking the lead on the topic on behalf of the organisation. He had previously called the ongoing violence a genocide. Since the crisis broke on August 25, the Turkish president has taken several actions to gather Muslim leaders across the world to put pressure on the Myanmar government. On August 31, he spoke with the leaders of Mauritania, Pakistan, Iran and Qatar urging them to join forces to find a way to stop the violence against the Rohingyas. Alongside Erdogan, other Turkish politicians have addressed the issue. Remarks by Mevlüt Çavusoglu, the foreign minister, garnered global attention. Mehmet Simsek, deputy prime minister, even tweeted unrelated images to raise the point, creating a bit of an embarrassment. So how are we to explain Turkey’s ambition to take the lead in this current crisis? Global ambitions The political vacuum prompted by the Trump administration’s retreat from global leadership has surely played a part. But, more evidently, Turkey’s longstanding pro-Western approach has shifted. Turkey is a NATO member and aspired to join the EU for years, but under President Erdogan’s lead and the current AKP government, the country’s foreign policy has shifted towards the global south, seeking new opportunities. Turkey’s foreign policy doctrine now promotes what Bilkent University academics Pinar Bilgen and Ali Bilgiç label “civilisational geopolitics”, “an understanding of culture and civilisation as preordained determinants of international behaviour”. As Bilgin and Bilgiç argue, this new doctrine aims at placing Turkey at the core of geopolitical issues between the West and the rest of Asia, justifying this global engagement by its political heritage – mainly based on its Central Asian and Ottoman history. The shift became most obvious at the end of the 2000s. It has been identified most closely with Ahmet Davutoglu, a scholar of geopolitics and Turkey’s foreign minister from 2009–14. In 2010 Foreign Policy called him “the brains of Turkey’s global reawakening”. Under Davutoglu’s watch, Turkey’s global diplomatic footprint expanded dramatically, especially in Asia and Africa. He opened Turkey’s first embassy in Myanmar in 2012 both to take advantage of the potential trade opportunities from the country’s post-2008 liberalisation and because of the Rohingya issue. A subsequent trip in 2013 saw him tour refugee camps and call on the Burmese government to extend citizenship rights to the Rohingya people. This new foreign policy coincides with Turkey’s decade-long ambition to become a global humanitarian power or what Turkish scholars E. Fuat Keyman and Onur Zakak call a “humanitarian state”. The Turkish humanitarian approach has been cast by journalist and former Somali Minister of Planning, Abdirahman Ali, as a middle way between the Western aid model and its Chinese counterpart. Whereas the former is highly conditional, bureaucratic and often security-focused and the latter tends to bolster corrupt ,authoritarian regimes, the Turkish approach - Ali claims - typically bypasses bureaucracy and emphasises “a ‘moral’ standard anchored in protecting human rights and helping the weak”. Turkey has backed this ambition with increased funding for humanitarian assistance over the last five years. Development Initiatives – a UK based NGO – recently reported that now Turkey ranks second in the world for humanitarian aid, having spent around US$6 billion in 2016 (the top-ranked US spent $6.3 billion). The champion of Muslims’ rights One of the other factors is domestic politics. Indeed, much of Erdogan’s public posturing on the Rohingya issue is entirely self-serving. The image of a strong Turkey reaching out to Muslim’s everywhere in the world– plays very well at home. During his 15-year tenure as Turkey’s leader, the country’s once-marginalised pious Muslim citizens have become increasingly prominent in media, business and politics. Ardent supporters in Turkey – not to mention large segments of public opinion across the Muslim world – thus see him as a champion of Muslim rights everywhere. Erdogan has studiously crafted this image throughout other crisis, such as in Egypt’s during the 2011-12 Morsi regime or in Palestine. His very public spats with Israel and the West have led some pro-Palestinian columnists in Arabic newspapers to call him the “new Nasser”. Competition ahead Nevertheless, in recent days there has been a modest push back from Saudi Arabia, which appears to be chaffing at Turkey’s leadership on the crisis. Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Turkey released a statement emphasising the Kingdom’s strong, decades-long support for the Rohingyas. Iran has followed too, promising shipments to reach Myanmar soon. Erdogan has promised to raise the Rohingya issue on September 19, at the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly – which Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is avoiding. His calls to protect Muslims worldwide could be a key moment for Turkey’s diplomatic leadership but whether other Muslim countries would follow or not will tell the limits of Turkey’s so-called “humanitarian politics”. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Turkey, the Rohingya crisis and Erdogan's ambitions to be a global Muslim leader

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