India and the United Nations on Thursday, 27 August held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral cooperation spanning peacekeeping operations, climate change, disaster risk reduction, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and reform of the UN system. The talks took place during a high-level meeting in New Delhi between senior officials from both sides.

Key Meeting and What Was Discussed

The discussions were held between Sibi George, Secretary (West) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and Amina J Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, who posted about the meeting on social media platform X, the two sides addressed India-UN cooperation across a broad agenda — from managing the transformational impact of AI to strengthening multilateral peacekeeping frameworks.

Mohammed arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday, 26 August for a three-day official visit to India. Ahead of her arrival, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed she would meet senior Indian government officials to discuss UN-India cooperation and India's role in advancing the SDGs.

IIT Visit and Digital Innovation

As part of her itinerary, the Deputy Secretary-General is also scheduled to meet students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) to explore the opportunities and challenges of leveraging digital innovation in support of the SDGs. The engagement underscores the UN's focus on technology as a driver of sustainable development, particularly in large emerging economies like India.

India's Broader UN Engagement

The talks build on a series of recent high-level engagements between India and the UN. On 4 August, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar interacted with Permanent Representatives of the UN from 17 countries visiting India on a study tour. Jaishankar noted that the discussions covered technology, maritime safety, peacekeeping, development partnership and disaster response.

'Delighted to interact with Permanent Representatives of the United Nations from 17 countries, visiting India on a study tour. As the global order transforms, reformed multilateralism reflecting the aspirations of the Global South is the need of the hour,' Jaishankar said in a post on X.

India's UNSC Bid and Global South Vision

In July, EAM Jaishankar formally launched India's campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028–29 term in New York. He outlined New Delhi's vision for a more representative, effective, and future-ready global order — one where the voice of the Global South is heard in equal measure.

Jaishankar described India's approach as rooted in SHANTI — Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity — with a focus on strengthening the Global South's voice in international peace and security. This comes amid growing calls from developing nations for reform of multilateral institutions that were largely designed in the post-World War II era.

With Mohammed's visit and the ongoing UNSC campaign, India is clearly positioning itself as a central actor in shaping the next phase of global governance — and the conversations this week in New Delhi are a direct reflection of that ambition.