Role of Global South in Achieving Ukraine peace

Syllabus: International Relations

Source: TH

Context: As Ukraine war nears a fragile ceasefire, debates intensify over who should oversee peace implementation. The Global South (Africa, Asia, Latin America) emerges as a credible alternative to NATO-led forces, given its neutrality and UN peacekeeping expertise.

Understanding the Global South:

• A coalition of developing nationsacross Africa, Asia, Latin America, advocating for equitable global governance.

E.g. BRICS (Brazil, India, South Africa) and G77 represent its collective voice.

• Neutrality in Ukraine War: Maintained non-aligned stances, unlike Western backing for Ukraine or Russian alliances.

E.g. India balanced ties with Russia (energy imports) and Ukraine (humanitarian aid).

• UN Peacekeeping Legacy: Contributed 60% of UN peacekeepers; India alone deployed 290,000 troops in 50+ missions.

• Economic & Diplomatic Clout: Represents 75% of world population and 40% of global GDP (PPP).

• Demand for Multipolar World Order: Challenges Western dominance in institutions like UNSC, IMF.

Why EU/US Peace Efforts Failed in Ukraine?

• NATO’s Perceived Bias: Russia sees NATO as a threat and rejects its involvement in peace efforts, calling troops “Trojan horses.”

• Lack of Trust from Moscow: Western military aid worth over $175 billion fuels Russian fears of encirclement and aggression.

• Domestic Opposition in Europe: Around 70% of French citizens opposed troop deployment in 2024, limiting EU political maneuvering.

• Dependence on US Leadership: EU lacks strategic autonomy; Trump’s ambiguous stance weakens long-term peace engagement.

• Escalation Risks: Stationing NATO forces near Russian borders increases chances of full-scale war.

Why Ukraine Peace Matters Globally?

• Food Security: Ukraine’s grain exports feed over 400 million; war has disrupted key agricultural supply chains.

• Energy Stability: Ongoing conflict disrupts EU gas supplies, causing energy insecurity and price hikes globally.

• Nuclear Threat: Shelling near the Zaporizhzhia plant risks a disaster on the scale of Chernobyl.

• Refugee Crisis: Over 8 million displaced Ukrainians strain host countries and European economic systems.

• Global Economic Spillover: War-driven disruptions contributed to global inflation and economic instability post-2022.

Role of Global South in Securing Ukraine Peace:

• Neutral Mediators: Countries like India, Indonesia, and South Africa can mediate without aligning to Western blocs.

• UN-Led Peacekeeping: The African Union’s peacekeeping in Somalia and Sudan proves readiness for neutral enforcement.

• Demining & Reconstruction: Nations like Chile and India offer experience in mine-clearing and rebuilding war-hit zones.

• Gender-Inclusive Peacebuilding: India’s 2007 all-women UN peace unit in Liberia sets a model for inclusive diplomacy.

• Financial & Logistical Support: BRICS Bank and Global South institutions can finance and facilitate post-war recovery.

Conclusion:

The Global South must lead Ukraine’s peace process to ensure impartiality and sustainability. India, with its UN legacy, should champion this mission. An UN-backed, non-NATO force offers the best hope for lasting stability.

• “If the last few decades were of Asia’s growth story, the next few are expected to be of Africa’s.” In the light of this statement, examine India’s influence in Africa in recent years. (UPSC-2021)