IBSA: a viable project? The role of Brazil, India and South Africa
House of GaliciaMadrid, Spain 15/10/2007
Description
IBSA is the first inter-regional alliance between middle and great powers of the South. The trilateral dialogue forum between India, Brazil and South Africa was created in 2003 from within the framework of the WTO Doha Round and held its first summit in 2006 in Brasilia.
Relations are based on shared values such as democracy, peace and human rights. At a global level, the three countries defend common interests in the WTO and the United Nations. Trilateral cooperation is focused on health, science and technology, the fight against poverty, and trade.
All three partners live in unstable neighbourhoods: the main problem for Brazil is the Andean countries; for India, mainly Pakistan and Sri Lanka; and for South Africa, most of its neighbours.
Thus, conflict prevention and resolution, preferably by peaceful means, is an issue of major concern for IBSA members. From the European perspective, Brazil, India and South Africa are regional powers or anchor states which play a major role in stabilising their regions.
In this context, the meeting will address the viability of the IBSA Dialogue Forum and the question of whether India, Brazil and South Africa can assume a constructive role as peace-keepers and political stabilisers.
