Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi discusses China’s dominance hindering India’s leadership in the Global South and emphasizes leveraging Africa as a potential power center. He highlights India’s technological advancements, advocates for UN reforms, and stresses the importance of partnerships within the Global South to enhance India’s global standing.
General Upendra Dwivedi, the Indian Army Chief, articulated that China’s ascent as a pivotal economic and strategic entity is obstructing India’s ambitions to be a leader for the Global South. During the fourth General Bipin Rawat Memorial Lecture in New Delhi, he emphasized the need for India to explore African nations as potential power centers, given the changing international dynamics.
The Army Chief noted that the challenges India faces inhibit its capacity to influence global decisions. He stated, “The rise of China creates competition,” complicating India’s leadership role. Despite being the world’s largest democracy and possessing a strategic geographic location, India still retains a marginal position globally, he remarked.
General Dwivedi expressed concerns regarding the stagnation of groups like BRICS and the backlash against efforts to challenge the dominance of the US dollar, indicating that geopolitical factors have marginalized India’s influences in key international discussions. He urged vigilance regarding the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a platform that could bolster India’s strategic interests.
Emphasizing modern national security, he highlighted the significance of emerging technologies, suggesting that technological capability is now the most significant deterrent. He stated, “Technology prowess has become the new currency of deterrence,” underscoring the evolving nature of trade and security in the contemporary landscape.
General Dwivedi advocated for a multipolar world order driven by anti-colonial alliances and the strategic bandwagoning of nations. He quoted the late General Rawat’s possible insights on India’s role within the emerging security paradigm, suggesting participatory engagement with international frameworks like SCO, BRICS, and BIMSTEC.
He elucidated India’s need to align with Global South partners, advocating for UN Security Council reforms that embrace global South representation. He called for active negotiation roles in conflict resolution and emphasized leveraging the Indian diaspora for humanitarian endeavors, thus fostering socioeconomic development across nations.
General Upendra Dwivedi’s insights reveal the complexities India faces in asserting itself as a leader in the Global South amidst China’s rise. He underscores the importance of emerging technologies in national security, the advocacy for multipolar alliances, and the necessity for India to engage actively with its global partners. By addressing these challenges, India can strengthen its position on the world stage while fostering collaborative development within the Global South.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
