India's Mission: Empowering the Global South as Rule-Shapers, Not Rule-Takers

In an era of shifting global dynamics, India is positioning itself as a pivotal leader for the Global South, aiming to elevate developing nations from mere rule-takers to influential rule-shapers. This ambitious mission seeks to foster equitable governance, sustainable development, and strategic autonomy amid rising geopolitical tensions.

The Imperative for Transformation

The Global South, encompassing regions in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and beyond, has long been at the receiving end of international rules crafted by dominant powers. A recent report highlights that India's task is not to supplant one hegemony with another but to cultivate a cooperative framework where Southern producers, shippers, and regulators achieve dignity and competitiveness.

By blending defensive reactions to unfair measures with proactive initiatives in shipping, warehousing, finance, and capacity building, the region can redefine its role in global trade. This shift is crucial as economic fortunes improve but privilege lags behind. As noted in analyses, rising power in the Global South has not translated into proportional influence, fueling demands for realignment in decision-making forums like the UN Security Council.

India's Leadership in the Global South

India emerges as the most credible voice for the Global South, leveraging its democratic framework, economic growth, and strategic positioning. Rooted in shared histories of colonization and mutual aspirations for self-reliance, India's engagement spans initiatives like the Voice of Global South Summits (VOGSS), themed "An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future." These platforms address pressing challenges such as climate change, debt burdens, and food security that disproportionately impact developing nations. During its G20 presidency, India amplified this voice by integrating the African Union as a permanent member, earning praise for bridging divides between the G7 and the broader South. Furthermore, India's support for multilateral reforms underscores its quest to become a rule-shaper in a multipolar world.

Strategies for Empowerment

Central to this mission is the development of tailored infrastructure and corridors that align with Southern realities. Examples include a "millets corridor" linking Eastern Africa and Western India, and "green shipping micro-corridors" between mid-sized ports to slash freight costs and emissions. These initiatives turn compliance into competitiveness, ensuring goods move efficiently without bottlenecks.Capacity building forms another pillar, with India sharing expertise in digital infrastructure, agriculture, and ICT through programs like the IBSA Fund and Digital India extensions.

As one report states, "When rules are matched by rails—digital, green, and maritime—the South is no longer walking someone else’s path. It is drawing its own map." India must carry this playbook to forums like BRICS, IORA, BIMSTEC, and the India-Africa Forum Summit, urging proactive leadership over passive adjustment.

Challenges and Opportunities

Challenges persist, including competition from powers like China, which also vies for Global South leadership in alliances such as the SCO. India's non-aligned yet supportive stance on the rules-based order—selective and pragmatic—requires balancing self-interest with global mediation efforts. Yet, opportunities abound in an era of instability where the Global South questions "whose rules, and to what purpose?" India's soft power, from NAM's founding to G20 successes, positions it to drive inclusivity and reform.

A Call to Action

The Global South faces a stark choice: remain passive or chart its course. India's mission embodies the latter, promoting South-South cooperation for sustainable futures. As Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel echoed at the G77 Summit, "It is now up to the South to change the rules of the game."