News Desk
NEW DELHI – The world is at an inflection point, and the time has come for a new international order, said Abdullah Shahid, President of the Maldivian Democratic Party and former Foreign Minister, in his keynote speech at the What India Thinks Today (WITT) Global Summit 2025 in New Delhi. Addressing an audience of world leaders, policymakers, and thought leaders, Shahid delivered a pointed critique of global institutions that, he argued, are failing to prevent war, genocide, and economic disparity. At the same time, he praised India’s leadership on the global stage, citing the country’s pandemic response and G20 presidency as evidence of its growing role in shaping a more inclusive international system.
A Failing Global Order
Shahid framed his remarks with a stark warning about the state of global governance. Quoting W.B. Yeats’ The Second Coming, he noted that the world is once again “reeling” from crises that multilateral institutions seem powerless to contain.
“Today, these words are once again speaking to us,” Shahid said. “As we speak, the world is reeling. From conflict, from injustice, from disaster.” He pointed to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a body whose structure no longer reflects present-day realities. “When you have a member of the United Nations Security Council undermine the very principles that the Security Council was intended to protect and uphold, how can the system survive?” he asked.
Shahid went further, condemning the inability of global mechanisms to prevent acts of mass violence and injustice. “When you have an international system that refuses to see genocidal acts committed against an innocent people, broadcasted across the world for everyone to see; when the perpetrators openly defy the international courts, its jurisdiction, the conscience of the world and still get away with it, how can the system survive?”
A Call for a New Global Order
With these concerns, Shahid made an impassioned plea for restructuring international institutions. “Perhaps, this is the moment for a rebirth – of the multilateral system, of the international order,” he said. He argued that the institutions created in the aftermath of World War II are outdated. “When the current system was created, the majority of the countries of today did not exist. The governance of the United Nations was designed for the realities of that time. And while the reality changed over time, the designs never did.”
The UNSC, he pointed out, remains one of the most glaring examples of this failure. “No permanent seat for Africa. Underrepresentation of developing countries. And of the 60 countries that have never served on the Council, nearly half are Small Island Developing States.”
India’s Leadership in Global Crises
Shahid’s remarks also underscored India’s rising influence in global affairs, particularly in times of crisis. “Like we saw during the pandemic with this great country – India,” he said. “India rose to the challenge with determination. Not only did you serve your people, but you served the world.”
He highlighted India’s extensive pandemic aid, from vaccine distribution to medical support, and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership in ensuring equitable access to resources. “From vaccines to medicines, from your skills to your generous assistance, you held out a helping hand near and far,” Shahid said, referring to India’s outreach to developing nations, including the Maldives.
Shahid also lauded India’s G20 presidency, which, under Modi’s stewardship, sought to amplify the voices of the Global South. “A genuine effort to include and ensure that the voices of the developing countries were heard. A first for many of us,” he said.
The Global South’s Role in a New Order
Shahid made it clear that the Global South must play a greater role in shaping the world’s future. “In a reborn, new international order, the Global South should and will play a more decisive role,” he asserted. “This will be a new international order that is sympathetic towards developing countries. One that includes us all – small and big.”
He noted that today’s challenges—climate change, economic disparity, and conflicts—are deeply interconnected. “Eighty years ago, when the current international system was conceptualized, the key focus was rebuilding lives and livelihoods,” he said. “Today’s challenges are more multi-faceted. Our planet is dying and so are our ocean ecosystems. Natural and human-induced disasters are increasing. Countries continue to face high levels of poverty, with high levels of debt.”
A Renewed Commitment to Multilateralism
Despite the pressing need for reform, Shahid emphasized that multilateralism remains essential. “A new international order will still require commitment to old principles. It will require a strong belief in multilateralism,” he said. “There is no room for ‘going at it alone.’ We can only overcome when we work together.”
He rejected isolationist tendencies, arguing that cooperation remains the only viable path forward. “It is not less multilateralism we need, but more,” he said.
Hope Amidst Chaos
Shahid ended his speech on a note of optimism, arguing that moments of upheaval have historically led to transformative change. “Yes, this indeed looks to be an opportune time for a new international order,” he said. “At times of upheaval and chaos, we have come together, in the past, to create calm from chaos, order from anarchy, beauty from destruction.”
He called for a renewed commitment to global cooperation. “An international order that cherishes the principles of dialogue, unity. Promotes and even champions multilateralism – for it is multilateralism that reinforces equality. And working together that drives us forward.”
A Platform for Global Dialogue
The WITT Global Summit, organized by India’s largest news network TV9 and held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, served as a significant forum for these discussions. The event, now in its third edition, brought together political leaders, business executives, policymakers, and international thinkers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the inaugural keynote address, setting the tone for an event that seeks to shape discourse on India’s evolving global role.
With his remarks, Shahid positioned himself as a leading voice advocating for a reimagined global order—one in which the Global South is no longer an afterthought but a driving force for change. India, he suggested, is at the heart of this transformation.
“We have managed to unite, and not destroy. We have even thrived, even while facing adversity and unprecedented challenges,” Shahid concluded. “Let us come together once more, not just to reform the old but to build anew.”
