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International Organizations in News cover G7 Summit, BBNJ Treaty, IIAS presidency, UNSC, UNGA, IAEA, SCO, Quad, BRICS, IMEC, and G20 global developments. It also delves into the IAEA's role, the SCO's counter-terrorism focus, Quad's Indo-Pacific strategy, BRICS expansion, IMEC, World Food India Summit, and G20's global economic influence.
International Organizations in News highlights major global organizations and summits that have recently been in the spotlight. It covers key developments related to the G7 Summit, the BBNJ Treaty for ocean conservation, and India’s presidency of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS).
The blog also explains important institutions such as the UN Security Council, UN General Assembly, and IAEA, along with global groupings like SCO, Quad, BRICS, G20, and the IMEC corridor. These updates help aspirants understand current trends in global governance and international relations.
Understanding international organizations and summits is important for competitive exams and current affairs analysis. Details about the International Organizations and Summits are given here:
The G7 Summit in 2025 was hosted by Canada, which served as the G7 President for that year.
Historical Context and Evolution
Formed in 1975 during the economic crises of the 1970s, the G7 originated as a group of developed economies. Its core members are France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Japan, United States, and Canada. The European Union participates as an observer but is not counted as a full member.
The group expanded to G8 in 1998 with Russia’s inclusion, aiming to foster better relations after the disintegration of the USSR in 1991. However, Russia was expelled in 2014, reverting the group to G7, as a punitive measure after its attack on Ukraine and the capture of the Crimean Peninsula. (The Crimean Peninsula is north of the Black Sea, connected to the Sea of Azov by the Strait of Kerch, a key region in Russia’s 2014 annexation.)
The 51st G7 meeting marked the 50th anniversary of the G7. It was held in Kananaskis, Canada, located in the eastern belt of the Rocky Mountain Range.
Relations between India and Canada are showing signs of revival, with an Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) signaling a potential for stronger economic partnership.
Key outcomes included the Wildfire Charter, declared at Kananaskis to address climate change (which India has endorsed), a Critical Minerals Action Plan to diversify supply chains and address China’s dominance, and the G7 Go AI Initiative focusing on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) for shared benefits.
The conference was held in Nice, France, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica. Its central theme was directly linked to Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14): “Life Below Water”.
A significant agreement was the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, also known as the High Seas Treaty. Adopted in 2023 under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), it aims to protect marine life in areas beyond 200 nautical miles from the coastline. Approximately 56 countries have ratified it; the treaty will enter into force once over 60 countries ratify it. India has signed the treaty, but ratification is pending. The primary goal is to establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to prevent overfishing and unregulated deep-sea mining, with a 30×30 Target to conserve 30% of oceanic waters by 2030.
On June 3, 2025, India secured the presidency of the IIAS for a three-year term (2025-2028). This marks the first time the IIAS presidency was decided through ballot-based elections, with India winning 61.7% of the votes.
Established in 1930 with its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, the IIAS is an international non-profit organization dedicated to improving governance mechanisms globally.
It comprises 31 country members, 20 national sections, and 15 academic research centers, with its functioning observed by global institutions like the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration (UNCEPA). India has been a member since 1998, represented by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
The UNSC has 15 members. The Permanent Members (P5) are USA, UK, France, Russia, and China, nations victorious in World War II. The 10 Non-Permanent Members are elected for two-year terms, with five new members elected each year.
(This election cycle ensures a staggered rotation, meaning if five are elected in 2025 (serving 2025-2026), the next five will be elected in 2026 (serving 2026-2027), and so on.) New non-permanent members for 2025 include Bahrain, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Latvia, and Liberia.
Exclusively held by the P5, a single negative vote from any permanent member can block any resolution, making it a controversial power.
The 10 non-permanent seats are regionally divided: Africa (3), Asia (2), Latin America (2), Western Europe & Others (2), and Eastern Europe (1).
Established in 1945 as a principal organ under the UN Charter, the UNSC’s primary purpose is to maintain international peace and security.
Demands for reform stem from the P5’s misuse of the veto power and the perception that the UNSC’s composition is outdated.
The G4 Grouping (India, Brazil, Japan, and Germany) advocates for reforms, including expanding permanent membership and ensuring regional balance.
The UNGA is the largest gathering within the UN system, comprising 193 member countries and meeting annually in September.
Its headquarters were permanently established in New York in 1951. The UNGA was founded by 51 countries following the failure of the League of Nations after World War I.
The UNGA Presidency rotates annually among five geographical regions: Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America & Caribbean, and Western Europe & Others.
A two-thirds majority vote is required for important decisions, such as electing non-permanent members to the UNSC. It also addresses crucial peace and security issues.
The IAEA recently reprimanded Iran for violating international nuclear guidelines, specifically concerning its underground nuclear facilities, leading to retaliatory actions.
Established in 1957 with the principle of “Atoms for Peace”, the IAEA is an intergovernmental organization. Its core mission is to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, prevent its military use, and combat nuclear weaponization.
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005, it reports to both the UNGA and the UNSC. India is one of its founding members.
The 2025 SCO meeting was notable for improving India-China relations, which had been strained. Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Tianjin for the leaders’ summit helped mitigate tensions that arose from earlier diplomatic exchanges regarding terrorism.
A consistent priority for SCO is counter-terrorism, supported by its anti-terrorism institution, RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure), headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. SCO membership includes 10 Member Countries (including India) and 17 Partner Countries, with Laos being the latest addition. The SCO adopted a vision of “One Earth, One Family, One Future”, adhering to UN principles.
Established in 2001, with its Charter coming into force in 2003, SCO aims to combat terrorism and extremism and provide economic and political support to member states. Its supreme decision-making body is the Council of Heads of State. Permanent bodies include the Secretariat in Beijing, China, and RATS. Official languages are Russian and Chinese.
Previously perceived as dormant, the Quad has seen a revival, particularly after the India-US trade deal, with ministerial-level meetings and an anticipated leaders’ meeting.
Its members are the USA, India, Japan, and Australia, all democracies located in the Indo-Pacific region.
Quad originated in 2004 as an informal collaboration for disaster relief during the Indian Ocean Tsunami. China viewed it as a counter to its influence, causing initial hesitation.
Despite a brief setback with Australia’s withdrawal and India’s caution, the Malabar Exercise (naval drills) continued, later including Japan and Australia. The group was revitalized in 2017 under the US, with a renewed focus on security, technology, and regional policies to counter China.
The idea was initially proposed by then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007. Quad is an informal strategic partnership focused on maritime rules and global order.
Its purpose is to ensure an open, stable, and inclusive Indo-Pacific Region, preventing any single power from asserting undue dominance.
Vision
The 2023 Vision for Quad is “Enduring Partners for the Indo-Pacific”.
India’s participation in both Quad and BRICS demonstrates its commitment to a multipolar world order.
The current members are Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
The acronym “BRIC” (Brazil, Russia, India, China) was coined in the early 2000s by Jim O’Neill, Chief Economist at Goldman Sachs, identifying rapidly growing economies aiming to challenge Western dominance.
The first BRIC meeting was in 2009 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. South Africa’s inclusion in 2010 officially formed BRICS, with its first summit participation in 2011, hosted by China.
The 2014 Fortaleza Summit in Brazil established the New Development Bank (NDB), targeting the dominance of Bretton Woods Institutions (World Bank and IMF). The 2015 Ufa Summit in Russia focused on Global Governance and International Security.
The 16th BRICS Summit (2024) in Russia saw significant expansion, adding Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, and UAE as new members (Argentina withdrew interest), forming the expanded “BRICS Plus”.
IMEC is a multi-modal connectivity project designed to link India, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.
The idea for IMEC was initiated during the G20 Summit hosted by India in 2023, aiming to create an efficient transport corridor. The proposed route includes Mumbai (India), Jebel Ali (UAE), then through Saudi Arabia to Haifa (Israel), and across the Mediterranean Sea to Greece.
The project involves ports, railways, roads, and seas. The Israel-Gaza conflict has raised doubts about IMEC’s future, especially concerning the Haifa port.
IMEC consists of two corridors: an Eastern Part connecting the Middle East and India, and a Western Part connecting the Middle East and Europe. It is proposed as a collaborative alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The World Food India summit aims to establish India as a global food hub and the “Food Basket of the World.”
Hosted by India at Bharat Mandapam, the latest event (the Fourth) is scheduled for September 25, 2025, with the 2025 event facilitating MoUs worth approximately ₹1 lakh crore. Its core concept is “farm-to-fork”, enhancing the food supply chain.
Organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, previous events were held in 2017, 2023, and 2024. The summit focuses on attracting global investors, ensuring a robust supply chain, and promoting India’s rich food culture.
Five Important Core Pillars of Focus:
The G20 is a premier forum for international economic cooperation, representing a significant portion of the world’s economy.
The 2025 G20 Summit will be hosted by South Africa in Johannesburg. The G20 emerged from the need for broader cooperation during economic downturns, such as the 1998 East and Southeast Asian Financial Crisis.
The realization that developed countries alone could not address global economic issues led to the expansion of the G7. Following the 2008 Subprime Crisis, G20 meetings shifted to the Leadership Level (Heads of State/Government) for major decision-making.
The G20 comprises 19 leading economies and the European Union.
Observer organizations at G20 meetings include the United Nations (UN), World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The G20 operates through Two Tracks:
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The primary objective of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty is to protect marine life on the high seas by establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and preventing overfishing and unregulated deep-sea mining. It will enter into force once ratified by over 60 countries, with approximately 56 currently ratified.
The permanent members of the UNSC (P5) are the USA, UK, France, Russia, and China. The main point of contention is their exclusive veto power, where a single negative vote can block any resolution, which is often seen as controversial and outdated.
The New Development Bank (NDB) was established by BRICS at the 2014 Fortaleza Summit to challenge the dominance of traditional Bretton Woods Institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, providing an alternative financing mechanism for development projects.
The main purpose of the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) is to ensure an open, stable, and inclusive Indo-Pacific Region, preventing any single power from asserting undue dominance. Its members are the USA, India, Japan, and Australia.
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is a multi-modal connectivity project aiming to link India, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Mediterranean Sea to Europe through ports, railways, roads, and seas. Its strategic rationale is to serve as a collaborative alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
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