Former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin, speaking about India’s right to equal treatment in a session titled ‘Geopolitical Disruption: Emerging Powers versus Incumbent Powers’ at the NDTV World Summit on Monday, said, “It aspires to be “Equal treatment in a changing world is an extension of our freedom movement.”
He said that since India has achieved political independence and is economically self-reliant, the world needs to treat India equally at the table where India’s voice is not heard.
He gave the example of a smartphone updating its software with the click of a button. He said, “We are not saying that the international system needs such a fast pace, but now is the time for change in the international system.”
In response, Germany’s Ambassador to India and Bhutan Dr Philipp Ackermann said India has achieved a high standard on the international stage and should not ask questions of the same level. “The American President comes, the German Chancellor comes, they look for the Prime Minister’s knowledge and ideas. India is already being treated as an equal partner,” he said.
As a footnote, Mr. Ackerman further added that, even though the P5 says the Security Council needs to be bigger, no one has any intention of seeing it implemented, “They are in their own little club of 5. I am very comfortable”, he said. “India, Germany, Brazil and Japan are in this table. We have to keep fighting.”
Discussing what role India should play in climate change, Mr Akbaruddin said climate change is difficult and complex for India and developed countries need to understand more about the needs of developing countries. Moving on to the topic of resetting the existing order, he said, “We have seen that lone rangers sometimes perform well but big time issues require partnership.”
His view was that the challenges will be in climate, artificial intelligence, space and much more, which by definition are cross-border and states will have to work to find solutions and this will come through partnerships, not through lone rangers. .
