PM Modi Says UNSC Reform Is Now a “Necessity,” Calls on IBSA to Lead Global Change

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a strong message at the IBSA Leaders’ Summit, declaring that reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is “no longer an option, but a necessity.” Speaking in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Modi urged India, Brazil, and South Africa to push harder for global institutional reforms at a time when the world is becoming increasingly divided.

This IBSA Summit took place during the first G20 meeting ever held on African soil. Modi pointed out that the moment is significant because four back-to-back G20 presidencies were led by countries from the Global South, and three of these were IBSA members. According to him, this leadership created progress in areas like human-friendly development, changes in global governance, and sustainable economic growth. He called IBSA a powerful link between three continents and three strong democracies that represent major economies.

India has been demanding reform of the UNSC for many years, arguing that the current structure does not reflect the realities of today’s world. At the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year, Modi had compared outdated global institutions to “21st-century software running on a 20th-century typewriter.” His remarks today continued that theme. He said IBSA must send a clear message to the international community that reforms are needed not just at the UNSC but also in important financial and trade bodies such as the IMF, the World Bank, and the WTO. According to Modi, these changes are essential to ensure that the concerns of the Global South are taken seriously.

Modi also spoke firmly against “double standards,” especially in the global approach to terrorism. He stressed that terrorism is a threat faced by every nation and that countries must act together to stop terror financing. He linked this point to India's recent proposals at the G20 for a special plan to fight the drug-terror network, including stricter checks on dangerous synthetic drugs like fentanyl, which fuel crime and violence worldwide.

Apart from pushing for reforms, Modi also shared several ideas to strengthen cooperation within IBSA. One of his major proposals was the creation of an “IBSA Fund for Climate-Resilient Agriculture.” The goal of this fund would be to share knowledge and support countries in adapting their agricultural practices to climate change, improving food security across the Global South.

Modi also suggested forming an “IBSA Digital Innovation Alliance.” This group would help countries learn from India’s successful digital platforms, including UPI for easy digital payments, CoWIN for health services, and robust cybersecurity systems. He emphasized that digital tools must improve people’s lives and support human-centric development. Modi also encouraged his counterparts to attend India’s AI Impact Summit in 2026, where countries will work together on ethical and responsible uses of artificial intelligence.

Security was another major part of the discussion. Along with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Modi talked about new types of threats the world is facing. He warned that technologies such as artificial intelligence can be misused for deepfakes, cybercrime, and terrorism. To address this, he proposed joint IBSA efforts to monitor and counter these risks. His warning echoed the points he raised during yesterday’s G20 session, where he recommended creating rapid-action medical teams for global health crises and building a shared database to preserve traditional knowledge that promotes sustainability.

Modi’s vision at the summit fits into his broader approach of “reform, perform, transform.” This mindset can be seen not only in India’s foreign policy but also in domestic measures such as simplifying the GST system and promoting semiconductor manufacturing to make India more self-reliant. Many analysts believe IBSA is becoming an important platform for balancing global power. Instead of accepting systems dominated by Western countries, IBSA countries want to shape a world order that reflects modern realities and the aspirations of developing nations. As one expert commented, “Modi’s diplomacy is not just about getting a seat at the table — it’s about redesigning the table itself.”

The G20 Summit will continue until Monday, and there is hope for progress on major issues like climate finance and fairer global trade rules. For IBSA, today’s meeting showed a renewed commitment to working together and pushing for a more inclusive and balanced global system. The message was clear: India, Brazil, and South Africa want to play a bigger role in shaping the future of global governance, and they believe that time for change has already arrived.