Stories
Jaishankar Urges India-Africa Unity to Overcome 4F Crisis and Reform UN
- •External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called for deeper India-Africa ties, self-reliance, and fair representation in global institutions during his address at the Adwa Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa.
- •He highlighted the 4F crisis of fuel, food, fertilizers, and finance, noting that the Global South is unfairly bearing the brunt of distant conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- •Jaishankar stated that a united India and Africa would make it difficult for the international community to resist vital reforms within the United Nations and the Security Council.
- •Bilateral trade between India and Africa is currently approaching the $100 billion mark, with India standing as Africa's fourth-largest trading partner.
- •Cooperation areas span across digital infrastructure including UPI, space technology, artificial intelligence, healthcare, and affordable pharmaceuticals.
Key Questions Answered
S Jaishankar described the 4F crisis as consisting of fuel, food, fertilizers, and finance. He noted that the Global South's development prospects have been set back by this crisis due to recent global conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic, despite developing nations having little to do with triggering those events.
During its G20 presidency in 2023, India worked resolutely to secure a permanent membership for the African Union. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted this effort while advocating for similar reforms within the UN Security Council.
India is currently Africa's fourth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade turnover approaching the $100 billion mark. Indian investments across the continent span multiple sectors including manufacturing, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, energy, mining, agriculture, and information technology.
