Indian PM says global institutions have to reflect the new realities of the 21st century
India has repeated its demand for reforms in the United Nations, saying that global institutions should reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.
On his first visit to Slovakia, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Slovakian counterpart affirmed their commitment to multilateralism.
Modi and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico also backed – in a joint statement – comprehensive reforms of multilateral institutions, “including the United Nations, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to make them more representative, inclusive, effective, and reflective of contemporary geopolitical realities.”
The United Nations’ structure was decided in the aftermath of the Second World War, but is increasingly seen as out of step with the modern world where countries like India have grown their economic and military clout.
The call comes ahead of the G7 meet in Evian, France, where the Indian Prime Minister is expected to hold talks with world leaders, including US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Indo-US trade talks could figure in the meeting on the sidelines of G7, but whether Modi will raise his concerns on the US attacks on Indian merchant navy ships in the Middle East recently is something that is keenly watched in the country.
Formal discussions on the final touches to a trade deal between India and the US are expected only during US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer’s visit India on June 23-24.
The Modi-Trump meeting assumes significance as it comes at a time when the tech rivalry between the US and China and wars in the Middle East and Ukraine are reshaping New Delhi’s foreign policy choices. India warned against double standards in how global security issues are treated at last month’s International Security Forum in Moscow.
The Indian prime minister is also expected to hold bilateral meetings and discussions with G7 countries, partner countries, and international organizations, including South Korea, Kenya, Brazil, and Egypt, and officials of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and OECD.
Modi’s bilateral engagements in Paris include addressing the VivaTech Summit, Europe’s premier technology and startup conference. President Macron visited Mumbai and Delhi in February this year for the AI Impact Summit.
On Sunday, Macron hailed India as “a major driver of global innovation” at the Bharat Innovates 2026 conclave in Nice.
