India Has Never Embraced Expansionism, Stands Against Grabbing Others' Resources: PM Modi in Guyana

Georgetown: Georgetown: Prime Minister Narendra Modi , addressing a special session of the Parliament of Guyana on Thursday, reiterated India’s long-standing stance against expansionism, emphasizing the country's commitment to peaceful cooperation rather than territorial conquest. His remarks come amid growing global concerns about China's expansionist behaviour and territorial disputes with its neighbouring countries and around the world.

Addressing the Guyana Parliament, Prime Minister Modi stated that India has "never moved forward with the expansionist mindset" and has always kept a clear stance against "grabbing others' resources”. He highlighted India’s foreign policy principles of trust, transparency, and respect for other nations' sovereignty. "We have never moved forward with the feeling of expansionism. We have always stayed away from the feeling of occupying resources, grabbing resources," PM Modi said, adding that India’s approach to global issues has been rooted in cooperation rather than conflict.

The prime minister’s comments were a direct reference to the rising geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, where territorial disputes involving China have raised alarms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that the world must shift its focus from conflict to cooperation, particularly in areas like space and the seas. "Be it space or sea, these should not be subjects of universal conflict but cooperation," he said, underlining that now is the time to identify and eliminate the root causes of global conflicts.

"Democracy First, Humanity First"

PM Modi framed his vision for a peaceful and prosperous world in terms of India’s core values, advocating for a global order based on democracy and humanity. "This is the time to identify the conditions that create conflict and remove them," he stated, stressing that the world must confront contemporary challenges such as terrorism, cybercrime, and drug trafficking in a unified manner.

The prime minister called "Democracy first, humanity first", the "strongest mantra" to guide global cooperation. He explained that India's foreign policy is rooted in these principles, ensuring the welfare of not just its own citizens but also the broader international community, particularly the nations of the Global South.

"India believes the Global South has suffered a lot in the past. Today, the countries of the Global South are paying the biggest price for climate change," PM Modi added, pointing out the environmental imbalance caused by the industrial development of wealthier nations.

He emphasized that the Global South, which includes many developing countries, must have a unified voice in global affairs to ensure that their developmental aspirations are met without compromising the environment.

PM Modi Highlights India's Role as Voice of Global South

PM Modi highlighted India's increasing influence as a voice for the Global South, stressing that the country is committed to supporting developing nations. "India stands in favour of global development in every way," he said. He further noted that India’s past development has been guided by its respect for nature and culture. "In the past, we progressed by protecting nature according to our nature and culture," the PM added.

The prime minister called for a collective effort to address the challenges facing the Global South, such as climate change, poverty, and inequality. He framed this moment as a historic opportunity for the countries of the Global South to come together and create a "new global order" based on mutual respect and shared development goals. "This is the time for the awakening of the countries of the Global South," PM Modi said.

He also urged greater cooperation between nations like India and Guyana to shape a more equitable world.

PM Modi’s Pitch for Democracy for Building Inclusive Society

Pitching for democracy in his address, Prime Minister Modi said there is no greater tool than democracy for building an inclusive society. He also celebrated the democratic values shared by India and Guyana, two nations that have both worked to strengthen democracy in their respective regions. He praised Guyana for its democratic achievements and affirmed that both countries are united in their commitment to uphold democratic principles globally. "Today both our countries are strengthening democracy in the world," PM Modi said, before concluding with a message of unity: "On behalf of 140 crore Indians, I greet all of you in the Parliament of Guyana."