VIJAY K Nambiar is a man of merit, polished, scholarly, and an ardent practitioner of the philosophy of inclusion. An interaction with him is worth every minute invested. It provides an opportunity to develop a better understanding of the complexities of the world today. So,one takes it as a well formed opinion when the man who served in many important positions, includingasChefde Cabinet (Chief of Staff) to the then UN Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-Moon, speaks ofthe reform at the UN Security Council as the need of the hour’. Currently, the Sherpa of Civil 20 India 2023, Ambassador Vijay K Nambiar was inthecity for the Civil20 India 2023 Inception Conference. On the sidelines of the meet, ‘The Hitavada’ caught up with him for an interaction on a variety of complex issues, including rise of India on global stage, strategic autonomy, multi-lateralism, and the latest statement of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida being interpreted as a call for cooperationbetweenG7andG20 groupings. The interaction was triggered by Nambiar’s speech at the inauguralceremony of theC20 India 2023 Inception Conference. In his speech, he flagged three major challenges that the world was facing currently. The first one being climate change and systematic depredation of environment. The second being rapid advance of technology and innovation affecting the human lives in a number of ways. And, the third and the most important aspect being increase in polarisation between States and erosion of multi-lateralism.

 

Asked about multi-lateralism, Nambiar replied that India’sperspective was getting noticed.When the world is witnessing several conflicts, the concept of pluri-lateralism is gaining weight. Under plurilateralism,countries with aspirations are trying to get over the existing multi-lateral arrangements. “As far as India isconcerned,itis followingthe principle of multi-alignment, as has been highlighted by our External Affairs Minister. The Global South is an aspiring group.India is emerging on the scene very fast with its inherent strengths including inclusiveness, and growing economic clout,” he added. Obviously, whenonetalksof aspirations of emerging powers,one cannot ignore thecalls for reform of the United Nations (UN). Nambiar agreed that the restructuring of the UN Security Council was essential. According to him, though the UN remained the promise of a rule-basedglobalorder, as was indicated by its strength growing from 51 at the foundation to 193 member countries now,one could not ignore the hard reality of the dominant role of P-5 within the UN Security Council. “Now, this ‘basic structure’ has come in for some serious questioning. If the multi-lateral system embodied in the institutions of the UN is to retainitslegitimacy, effectiveness and credibility in the changing world, reform in theUN‘basicstructure’isneeded,” he stressed. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, on Monday, after meeting with Indian PrimeMinisterNarendraModi, made a statement that G7 and G20 groupings should work together. He expressed his intention to address the challenges facing the International community on the occasion of theG7 Hiroshima Summit from two perspectives -- adherence to the International order based on the rule of law and enhancing relations with partners in the International community beyondtheG7,includingthose countries referred to as the Global South. When his attention was attracted towards this, Nambiar found Kishida’s statement ‘interesting development’. Further questioned, if it could be viewed as a suggestion of expansion of G7 or G20 or emergence of something new, Nambiar felt that it was the language of inclusion more than anythingelse.“The G7wasoriginally G8, and after Crimea invasion, the grouping excluded Russiafromit.So, it became G7. But,weare living inaworld of competing interests and we must understand that having a dialogue with disagreeing side is important too. Hence, we just cannot say let’s exclude X or Y country fromaparticular grouping. Rather, we should work together, share perspectives, develop an understanding of complex issues,and walk the common road. The worldneeds tobemoreinclusive,”heexplained. Nambiar has a vast experience and has been a closeobserver and keen participantin International affairs over the years. He has experience of serving in China. He served inDelhiduring1983Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit and after, also as India’s Ambassador in Algeria.

 

As theJoint Secretary (EastAsia)intheMinistry of External Affairs, hehelped prepare for the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’shistoric visit to China in 1988. He served as India’s Ambassador/H ighCommissionerinAfghanistan, Malaysia, China, Pakistan andPermanent Representative tothe UN in New York. Interestingly, afterretirement, Vijay K Nambiar served as  Deputy National Security Adviser of India till 2006, and then deputed by India to serve in the UN Secretariat as Under Secretary-General, Special Adviser to Secretary-General Kofi Annan, later as Chef de Cabinet to Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. Given his vast experience and expertise of International affairs, Nambiar is the best man to ask about India following the path of ‘strategic autonomy’ more aggressively now. He agreed that it was being pursued more aggressively now, but pointed out that India had always been following the path of strategic autonomy. Previously, when the world was bipolarised in the Cold War era, India chose to remain non-aligned. “It was a demonstration of strategic autonomy. Later on, as everyone knows, the non-aligned nations became a ‘movement’. It was also the time when Decolonisation was taking place and the UN’s historic Decolonisation Declaration in 1960 led to progressive emancipation of erstwhile colonies. So, we have been following the path of strategic autonomy, but now we are following it more aggressively,” he explained with a refreshing and understanding smile.