24th April, 2015

Dear Readers,

Current affairs forms an important component of several competitive exams such as the UPSC Civil Services Examination, SSC CGL, Bank PO & PSU entrance tests, etc. Therefore, understanding terms/concepts/events that are in the news is critical for aspirants. We at PaGaLGuY bring you this series of articles in which we shall explain some of these important concepts/events for you. In this article, we are discussing the future prospect of IBSA.

India, Brazil & South Africa (IBSA) is a tripartite group to promote international cooperation and facilitate understanding between the three developing countries. Formed in 2006, it acts as a forum to provide the countries with a platform for mutual cooperation in the field of agriculture, trade, culture, and defence.

IBSA is competing with BRICS for influence  :

However, over the years IBSA has been losing its influence due to the growth of BRICS. South Africa joined BRIC in 2010 and since then this association of five countries (Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa) has been a potential competitor to IBSA. This is because BRICS has been able to outshine IBSA due to its dynamic expansion in a short period of time.

China especially has been increasing its influence by building economic corridors and progressing toward its ambitious MSR project. China and Russia are dominating the political leadership of BRICS and promoting their anti-West agenda through it. BRICS considers itself a counterpart of the G7 and aims to surpass them in the coming years.

India, Brazil and South Africa are emerging economies with a pro-democratic outlook. Though they have been seeking a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, they require strong support to achieve this as they are still on the path of economic recovery. BRICS is offering them the required bargaining potential for a permanent seat in the UNSC.

UNSC link :

However, the worthiness of having a permanent UNSC seat in shaping the future dynamics of world diplomacy and dominance is questionable. Over the last decade, UNSC has been proving to be in ’empty suit’. It has failed to prevent action by the United States in Iraq, to impede Russian annexation of Crimea, the crisis in Syria or Saudi Arabia’s bombing of Yemen. 

Revitalising IBSA :

It has the voice of three great developing democracies of the world. By recalibrating their future diplomatic strategy, it can be a pro-democratic powerhouse. The countries have some common security concerns like drug trafficking, money laundering, terrorism and maritime security. Considering the current direction of global issues, IBSA can step up to the western and Eurasian dominance.