Abdulla Shahid, the former Maldives Foreign Minister, has argued that the time has come for developing nations to take a leading role in shaping the future of global governance. Speaking at the What India Thinks Today Summit, the former President of the United Nations General Assembly outlined a vision for a new world order in which the Global South plays a decisive and coordinated part.
Pointing to India’s presidency of the G20 and its leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, Shahid said the developing world had already demonstrated both readiness and capacity. In his view, the next phase must move beyond representation towards agency—where decisions are shaped by the countries most affected by global disruptions.
At the heart of Shahid’s message was a call for more integrated, collaborative approaches to solving global challenges. He stressed that issues like climate change, conflict, and economic inequality are no longer confined to single sectors or borders. Instead, he described them as “multi-faceted, multi-dimensional, transboundary issues” that require solutions which are equally complex and inclusive.
His remarks also came with a clear defence of multilateralism, which he said remains essential in a time when some actors are tempted by isolation or unilateral decision-making. For Shahid, cooperation is not optional—it is the only viable response to interconnected global crises.
The speech reflects a broader sentiment growing among leaders of the Global South, who argue that legacy institutions and power structures no longer reflect the realities of a multipolar world. As major global forums continue to adapt, voices like the former Foreign Minister are helping to centre a narrative in which equity, cooperation, and shared responsibility underpin the future of international relations.
