The Foreign Ministers of India, Brazil, and South Africa, under the framework of the IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) grouping, held a meeting on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. The ministers, S Jaishankar (India), Mauro Vieira (Brazil), and Ronald Lamola (South Africa), addressed key global issues, highlighting their shared concerns and urging concerted action.
The ministers united in condemning terrorism in all its forms, calling it a global scourge that requires decisive action. They emphasized the need to eliminate terrorist safe havens across the world and stressed that the fight against terrorism must be conducted in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter and international human rights law.
Specifically, the IBSA ministers demanded concerted action against all UN-listed terrorists and terrorist entities, including Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), other proxy groups, and their facilitators. They reiterated their commitment to expedite the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the UNGA. The ministers further urged the international community to establish a comprehensive international counter-terrorism framework, emphasizing the need for a truly broad approach that aligns with international law principles and recognizes the UN’s central coordinating role in international counter-terrorism cooperation.
On the situation in Ukraine, the ministers expressed their deep concern over the ongoing conflict and called for de-escalation and direct dialogue between the involved parties to create conditions for effective peace. They emphasized the need for peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy and acknowledged relevant mediation and good offices proposals from countries not directly involved in the conflict.
The IBSA foreign ministers also voiced their deep concern over the dramatic humanitarian situation in Gaza. They reiterated their call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages, and emphasized the importance of compliance with international law, including relevant UN Security Council resolutions and International Court of Justice decisions. The ministers reaffirmed the urgency of achieving a lasting solution to the conflict through a two-state solution, with an independent and viable state of Palestine coexisting with Israel in peace and security within the 1967 borders, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital. They urged states that have not yet recognized the state of Palestine to do so and expressed support for Palestine’s admission as a member of the UN.
The ministers acknowledged the potential for escalating conflicts in the Middle East with unpredictable consequences for the region and the world. The IBSA ministers emphasized the importance of all states acting consistently with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, highlighting the need for global cooperation and diplomacy in tackling these complex issues.
