External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti in New Delhi, discussing commercial shipping safety, mining, health, agriculture, water, training and UN Security Council reforms. The meeting highlighted India-Liberia ties, South-South cooperation and efforts to deepen development partnerships between the two countries.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday met Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti in New Delhi and held discussions on a wide range of issues, including the safety and security of commercial shipping, mining, health, agriculture, water and training. The meeting underlined India’s growing engagement with Liberia and the broader importance of strengthening cooperation among countries of the Global South.
Jaishankar welcomed Nyanti and congratulated her on the inauguration of Liberia’s new Embassy in New Delhi. Describing the discussions as productive, the External Affairs Minister said both sides exchanged views on several areas of mutual interest, with particular attention to commercial shipping security and development-oriented cooperation.
The meeting also covered the need for reforms at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), reflecting the shared interest of India and Liberia in making global institutions more representative and responsive to the priorities of developing nations.
“Delighted to meet Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti of Liberia,” Jaishankar said in a social media post. He congratulated her on the inauguration of the new Liberian Embassy in New Delhi and noted that the two sides had a productive conversation on safety and security of commercial shipping, mining, health, agriculture, water and training.
“Our meeting also focused on much-needed UNSC reforms. Confident that our South-South cooperation will continue to strengthen,” he added.
Nyanti arrived in India earlier on Thursday as part of Liberia’s engagement with New Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) extended a warm welcome to the visiting Foreign Minister and described the visit as an opportunity to further strengthen the close and friendly relations between India and Liberia.
The latest ministerial meeting comes against the backdrop of increased interaction between the two countries in areas linked to development, capacity building and South-South cooperation. India has been highlighting its development experience and initiatives as part of its engagement with partner countries across the Global South.
Earlier this week, Jaishankar also met a Parliamentary delegation from Liberia that was visiting India as part of an IBSA-funded peer-learning programme. The meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on development programmes and share experiences related to India’s various public welfare and development initiatives.
Jaishankar said the discussions included India’s experience with programmes such as Jan-Dhan Yojana, MUDRA Yojana, SVANidhi, Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Mission Amrit Sarovar. He also appreciated the interest shown by the Liberian delegation in India’s development initiatives and reaffirmed New Delhi’s commitment to building a deeper Global South partnership.
The Liberian Parliamentary delegation included members of the country’s Senate and House of Representatives, as well as members of the Women’s Legislative Caucus of Liberia. The delegation was led by Ellen-Attoh Wreh and also included representatives from UN Women.
During their visit, the delegation also met Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi in New Delhi. The discussions focused on areas of shared interest and opportunities for cooperation, particularly within the broader framework of South-South collaboration.
The delegation is visiting India from August 10 to 15 for a South-South Peer Learning Mission. The programme is being organised with support from UN Women and funded by India, Brazil and South Africa through the India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) Fund. The fund is administered by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the participating sides held substantive discussions on areas of common interest and expressed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation. The peer-learning programme is aimed at facilitating the exchange of experiences and knowledge among developing countries and promoting practical cooperation in areas relevant to sustainable development.
The engagement between Jaishankar and Nyanti therefore builds on a wider series of interactions between India and Liberia. With discussions ranging from commercial shipping and natural resources to agriculture, healthcare, water management and training, both countries are seeking to expand cooperation beyond traditional diplomatic engagement.
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The focus on commercial shipping safety also assumes significance as maritime security remains an important component of international trade and economic connectivity. Meanwhile, discussions on UNSC reform indicate a shared interest in strengthening the voice and representation of developing countries in global decision-making institutions.
The latest exchanges demonstrate India and Liberia’s intention to further consolidate bilateral relations while working together through South-South cooperation. New Delhi’s engagement with Liberia also reflects its broader effort to share development experiences, strengthen capacity-building partnerships and promote cooperation among countries of the Global South.
