Maldives’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Khaleel, highlighted India’s pivotal role in uniting Global South nations as he took part in the High-Level Meeting of Like-Minded Global South Countries, convened by India on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly.
Minister Khaleel welcomed India’s initiative, stressing that in the face of “a proliferation of concerns and multiplicity of risks,” the Global South must turn to multilateralism to find solutions. He presented a set of proposals aimed at fostering greater cooperation and solidarity across developing nations.
Among his proposals were:
- Using existing forums to strengthen dialogue and collaboration within the Global South.
- Sharing unique strengths such as vaccine development, digital capacity, education, agro-practices, and SME-driven growth.
- Prioritizing climate action and climate justice tailored to Global South needs rather than Global North narratives.
- Exploring opportunities in emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence.
- Pursuing meaningful reforms of the UN and multilateral frameworks.
Khaleel noted that the challenges faced by the Global South are “complex, interconnected, and urgent” and cannot be solved in isolation. He underscored that the strength of the Global South lies in its unity, particularly in advancing climate goals, reforming the Security Council, and mobilizing development finance.
Reaffirming the Maldives’ commitment, Minister Khaleel said the country would continue working closely with India and other like-minded nations to promote inclusive growth and resilient development pathways.
