Army Chief Gen. Upendra Dwivedi articulates the challenges India faces in leading the Global South amid China’s rise. He emphasizes the need for technological prowess, reforms in international representation, and collaboration with African nations to enhance India’s global standing and security policy effectiveness.
During the fourth General Bipin Rawat Memorial Lecture held in New Delhi, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi expressed concerns over China’s growing influence and its implications for India’s aspirations to lead the Global South. He stated that China’s dominance complicates India’s role on the global stage, inhibiting its ability to shape crucial international decisions.
General Dwivedi emphasized the need for India to recognize Africa as a potential center of power. Despite India’s significant demographic and geographic advantages, including being the largest democracy and seventh-largest country, it struggles to achieve a more prominent global standing. “We have been repeatedly blocked, leaving us with little ability to shape key international decisions directly,” he noted, referencing the challenges India faces, including setbacks within BRICS and reactions from foreign administrations like the Trump administration’s pushback against BRICS’ initiatives.
He highlighted the significance of emerging technologies for national security, proclaiming that technological capabilities now serve as essential deterrents, with data becoming crucial for trade and security. General Dwivedi remarked, “Security is about wholesome capability to wage war and deter war. Healthy military-civil fusion… and inclusive approaches play a pivotal role.”
Addressing historical alliances, General Dwivedi proposed that anti-colonial allies advocate for a multipolar world, where collaboration among nations can assist in preventing conflict. He urged India to fully engage in international frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, BRICS, and BIMSTEC to achieve broader objectives.
Further, he stressed the necessity for India to reform the UN Security Council by including more representatives from the Global South. He called for India to take an active role in peace negotiations and conflict resolution, to leverage its diaspora for humanitarian causes, and to be a leader in enhancing socioeconomic development through resource sharing. He concluded by affirmatively stating India’s commitment to lead in peacekeeping operations and advocating for responsible nuclear deterrence.
General Upendra Dwivedi’s discourse sheds light on the multifaceted challenges that India faces due to China’s ascendancy in the global arena. Despite India’s demographic and geostrategic advantages, its aspiration for leadership in the Global South is obstructed. To overcome these hurdles, India must embrace technological advancements, strengthen alliances, and advocate for representation within global institutions, thus positioning itself as a pivotal player in the emerging security framework.
Original Source: m.economictimes.com
