India hosts joint ministerial with L69 and C10 blocs as External Affairs Minister deepens diplomatic outreach on UNGA sidelines…reports Asian Lite News
External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, on Wednesday placed the spotlight firmly on the Global South as he hosted the second edition of the L69 and C10 Joint Ministerial in New York, underlining a collective determination to press for reforms at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Speaking at the gathering, Jaishankar stressed that developing nations were bound by a “unity of purpose” to demand long-overdue reforms at the UN’s highest decision-making body. In a message shared on X, he said, “Pleased to host the second edition of L69 & C10 Joint Ministerial in New York today. We gather with a unity of purpose – to push for comprehensive reforms of the UN Security Council as fellow members of the Global South.”
The L69 group is a cross-regional grouping of developing countries working to advance reform of the UNSC, while the C10 (Committee of Ten) represents the African Union’s common position on the same issue. The joint ministerial is being seen as an important forum to consolidate positions and strengthen the case for expanding both permanent and non-permanent membership of the Council.
Jaishankar’s ministerial responsibilities were accompanied by a busy day of bilateral meetings with key foreign counterparts on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. In a series of posts, he described the discussions as productive, with topics ranging from European security and the Ukraine crisis to bilateral development cooperation.
He met Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira ahead of the joint ministerial, underlining the two nations’ common agenda within the L69 grouping. He also held talks with Frederick Stephenson, Foreign Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, acknowledging the Caribbean nation’s support in advancing reform initiatives.
Later, Jaishankar conferred with Netherlands Foreign Minister David van Weel, describing their exchange as “an insightful conversation on European strategic positioning and India’s approach.”
In South Asia, his focus turned to Sri Lanka, as he reviewed bilateral cooperation with Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, reaffirming New Delhi’s commitment to supporting Colombo’s economic stabilisation and recovery efforts.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, was another significant interlocutor. Their talks centred on the ongoing war in Ukraine, developments within the European Union, and the scope of India-EU cooperation under Denmark’s presidency. Jaishankar described the interaction as valuable, particularly for its focus on Europe’s strategic trajectory and its implications for the Global South.
He also expanded his outreach to smaller nations, meeting Lesotho’s Foreign Minister, Lejone Mpotjoana, and Suriname’s Foreign Minister, Melvin Bouva. With Bouva, Jaishankar noted the warmth of ties, praising the Surinamese minister’s “warm words for our ties.”
Beyond his bilateral engagements, Jaishankar addressed a High-Level Meeting of Like-Minded Global South Countries, warning that the bloc’s hard-won rights and development gains were now under severe strain.
He cited multiple pressures – the lingering aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and mounting climate crises – as driving instability across the developing world. “We meet in increasingly uncertain times when the state of the world is a cause for mounting concern for member states,” Jaishankar told delegates.
“The Global South in particular is confronted with a set of challenges which have heightened in the first half of this decade. They include the shocks of the COVID pandemic, two major conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, extreme climate events, volatility in trade, uncertainty in investment flows and interest rates, and the catastrophic slowing down of the SDG agenda,” he said.
India has consistently projected itself as a voice of the Global South, particularly since hosting the first-ever Global South Summit in January 2023. Jaishankar’s interventions in New York followed the same trajectory, with calls for solidarity and structural reform at multilateral institutions.
The UNSC reform debate remains a long-running one, with developing nations frustrated at the slow pace of change in an institution still dominated by its five permanent members – the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom. India has long argued that the Council no longer reflects contemporary geopolitical realities, pointing to the exclusion of Africa and Latin America from permanent membership.
The L69-C10 ministerial is part of a coordinated attempt to apply pressure for progress in the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) process at the UN. By convening developing nations under one platform, India and its partners are hoping to amplify demands for an expanded Council that offers fairer representation to the Global South.
For New Delhi, securing a permanent seat on the UNSC remains a central pillar of its foreign policy. Wednesday’s meetings showed that the quest is not being pursued in isolation but as part of a broader campaign for equitable representation across continents.
As the minister concluded his packed day in New York, the message was clear: India is intent on using its growing diplomatic clout to align Global South priorities with the global reform agenda. The interactions underscored a multi-layered strategy – consolidating support for UNSC reform, reinforcing regional ties, and engaging with both large and small states on pressing global challenges.
In the words of one diplomat, Jaishankar’s New York engagements reflected “the confidence of a nation seeking not just a seat at the table, but a re-shaping of the table itself.”
