PM Modi Emphasizes Collective Strength Over Conflict at UN's Summit of the Future

Humanity's success lies in collective strength, not on battlefield: PM Modi at UN's Summit of the Future

Addressing world leaders from the iconic podium of the UN General Assembly hall, Modi, beginning his speech with a "Namaskar", said that he brings the voice of 1.4 billion Indians or one-sixth of humanity to the UN Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the "success of humanity lies in our collective strength, not on the battlefield" as he addressed the UN's Summit of the Future held against the backdrop of raging global conflicts. ADVERTISEMENT Addressing world leaders from the iconic podium of the UN General Assembly hall, Modi, beginning his speech with a "Namaskar", said that he brings the voice of 1.4 billion Indians or one-sixth of humanity to the UN. A day after world leaders adopted by consensus the Pact of the Future along with the annexes the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations on the opening day of the Summit of the Future, Modi told the UN that "when we are discussing Global Future, we must accord the highest priority to a human-centric approach." In his 5-minute address, Modi underscored that the "success of humanity lies in our collective strength, not on the battlefield." The Summit of the Future followed by the annual General Assembly high-level week comes in the midst of the Israel-Hamas conflict and the Ukraine war as well as challenges of climate change, inequality and deep geopolitical divides. The Pact's five broad focus areas include sustainable development; international peace and security; science and technology; youth and future generations and transforming global governance. It lays the groundwork for actions and commitment by member states towards a safer, more peaceful, sustainable and inclusive world for tomorrow's generations. With the UN turning 80 next year, the Pact underscores the need for reform of global institutions, a path forward for action on Sustainable Development Goals, climate action and the use of artificial intelligence among other areas. It, however, does not contain timelines for actions required to achieve these goals. Underlining that reform is the key to relevance, Modi emphasised that for global peace and development, reforms in global institutions are essential. He noted that the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 under India's presidency of the grouping at the New Delhi Summit last year "was an important step in this direction." India has been at the forefront of years-long efforts to reform the 15-nation Security Council, saying the powerful UN body does not reflect current geopolitics realities and underscoring that it rightly deserves a permanent seat at the horse-shoe table. India last sat at the UN high table as a non-permanent member in 2021-22. Modi also gave a call for global action to match global ambition as the world continues to grapple with the threat of terrorism as well as newer challenges. "While on the one hand, terrorism continues to be a serious threat to global peace and security, on the other hand, areas such as cyber, maritime and space, are emerging as new theatres of conflict," he said. "On all these issues, I will stress, that, global action must match global ambition!" he said. Highlighting that India has lifted 250 million people out of poverty in India and demonstrated that Sustainable Development can be successful, Modi voiced India's commitment to share its experiences with the Global South. "When we are discussing the Global Future, we must accord the highest priority to a human-centric approach," he said, adding that while prioritising sustainable development, "we must also ensure human welfare, food and health security. The Indian leader also emphasised the need for balanced regulation at a global level, for the safe and responsible use of technology. "We need global digital governance, which ensures that national sovereignty and integrity are upheld," he said, adding that "Digital Public Infrastructure should be a Bridge, not a Barrier!" UN officials and world leaders have consistently lauded India's digitalisation drive which has helped alleviate poverty and bring millions of people into the formal economic system through the use of a handset and a digitalization model. Modi said that India is ready to share its digital public infrastructure with the entire world "for Global Good." He added that for India, "One Earth, One Family, One Future" is a commitment. "This commitment is also reflected in our initiatives such as "One Earth, One Health", and "One Sun, One World, One Grid". He assured the world community that India will continue to work in thought, words and deeds to protect the rights of all humanity and for global prosperity. In his opening remarks to the summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said conflicts are raging and multiplying, from the Middle East to Ukraine and Sudan, with "no end in sight" and he called for the summit because "our world is heading off the rails - and we need tough decisions to get back on track." "Our collective security system is threatened by geopolitical divides, nuclear posturing, and the development of new weapons and theatres of war. Resources that could bring opportunities and hope are invested in death and destruction," he said. He further stressed that he had called for this meeting of world leaders to consider deep reforms to make global institutions more legitimate, fair and effective, based on the values of the UN Charter. "I called for this Summit because 21st century challenges require 21st century solutions: frameworks that are networked and inclusive; and that draw on the expertise of all of humanity," he said. Noting that the United Nations had 51 Member States when it was established nearly 80 years ago, he said today it is made up of 193 nations. "As a result, our peace and security tools and institutions, and our global financial architecture, reflect a bygone era," Guterres said. He warned that the 15-nation United Nations Security Council, which he described as "outdated" and whose authority is eroding, will eventually lose all credibility unless its composition and working methods are reformed. He said the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations open pathways to new possibilities and opportunities. "On peace and security, they promise a breakthrough on reforms to make the Security Council more reflective of today's world, addressing the historic under-representation of Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America," Guterres added. Over 130 Heads of State and Government are expected to attend the landmark event, held just ahead of the annual high-level debate in the UN General Assembly.

Collective strength, not war, key to success: PM

New York: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the success of humanity does not lie in the battlefield, called for the reform of global governance institutions, warned the world of the threats to global peace and security from both terrorism and in newer tech domains, called for balanced digital global governance, and offered to share both India's digital public infrastructure and experience of battling poverty with the rest of the world. In his address to the UN's Summit of the Future on Monday, Modi also spoke of India's recent elections as the largest-ever election in global history and presented himself as the voice of one sixth of humanity. At a time when the world is in the middle of two wars, and there is increased speculation about India's possible role in peacemaking in Ukraine, Modi said, "The success of humanity lies in our collective strength, not in the battlefield." Contrary to speculation, India didn't offer any peace plan, but as one of the few international actors with strong communication channels with both Russia and Ukraine, it is seen as a potential player in peacemaking efforts when the conflict is more ripe for resolution. On Sunday, Modi also meet Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas, even as Israel's offensive against Gaza continues and the world approaches the year long mark of Hamas's terror attack against Israel on October 7. On X, Modi said, after the meeting, "Reiterated India's support for early restoration of peace and stability in the region. Exchanged views of further strengthening long standing friendship with the people of Palestine." India has called for an immediate ceasefire and reiterated its support for a two state solution in the case of West Asian conflict. Modi's remarks on the UN stage came soon after the UN adopted the Pact for the Future, a landmark document, that also includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. His messages were largely in sync with the main thrust of the Pact in various domains of global development and security and digital governance. In the area of peace and security, according to a UN release, the pact offers the "most progressive and concrete commitment to Security Council reform since the 1960s", including by addressing the underrepresentation of Africa as a priority. This need for reform was among the highlights of Modi's speech as well, in the backdrop of India's persistent call for the global governance structures to reflect contemporary realities. The PM said, "For peace and development, it is necessary to reform global institutions. Reform is the key to relevance. In the New Delhi G20 summit, giving African Union permanent membership was a step in this direction."The Pact for the Future also has a detailed agenda on the reform of international financial institutions, another key Indian demand that New Delhi pushed during its G20 presidency. Modi also offered a warning to the world about other threats to peace and security. "On one hand, the threat to global peace and security comes from terrorism. On the other, the threat comes from new theatres such as cyber, maritime, space. In all these domains, global action must match global ambition." The UN Pact for the Future also acknowledges the need to strengthen international frameworks that govern outer space, including a clear commitment to prevent an arms race in outer space, and need for steps to avoid the "weaponization and misuse of new technologies". India's development and digital story also constituted other key strands of Modi's speech. The PM called for a "human-centric approach" and said, "While prioritising sustainable development, we have to ensure human welfare, food and human security. By lifting 250 million out of poverty, India has shown that it is possible that sustainable development can be successful. We are ready to share this experience with the global south." Modi then said that for "safe and responsible" use of technology, "balanced regulation" was necessary. "We need global digital governance where national sovereignty and territorial integrity is sacrosanct. Digital public infrastructure should be a bridge, not a barrier. For global good, India is ready to share its DPI with the rest of the world." UN's Global Digital Compact, annexed to the Pact, is the first comprehensive global framework for digital cooperation and AI governance. In a release, the UN said that at its core, the compact was a commitment to "design, use and govern technology for the benefit of all". This included connecting people, schools and hospitals to the Internet, digital cooperation in human rights and international law, making the online space safe for all, a roadmap to govern artificial intelligence, making data more open and accessible, and placing data governance on the UN agenda. Modi concluded his speech by pushing out India's universalist message from the platform of what remains, for all its deficiencies, the world's universal organisation. "For India, one earth, one family, one future is a commitment. This commitment is reflected in our one earth, one health, one sun, one world, one grid initiatives. For the welfare of all of humanity and global prosperity, India will continue to work with its thoughts, words, and actions."