USA’s unilateral list of ‘State Sponsors of Terrorism’ comprises countries that allegedly sponsor international terrorism.
- Countries in such a list face unilateral economic, commercial and financial coercive measures by US.
- North Korea, Iran and Syria are also part of this list in addition to Cuba.
- NAM's stand favouring Cuba highlights its importance to Global South countries.
- Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) traces its origins to the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung (Indonesia) with its first conference held in Belgrade (Serbia) in 1961.
- It was established as an alternative to the dominance of Cold War superpowers (USA and Russia) and aimed to establish a New International Economic Order.
Contemporary relevance of NAM for Global South
- Collective Voice: All 120 NAM members are from the Global South.
- Alternative to Renewed Power Contest: Russia-Ukraine War has created Cold War-like geopolitical competition, making non-alignment and peaceful coexistence more crucial for Global South.
- Allows Realist Statecraft: NAM provides autonomy to maembers in decision-making and flexibility to act in a country's best interests.
- Groupings like ASEAN, BRICS, African Union, and G77 (all dominated by NAM members) have adopted some NAM agendas, such as demanding reforms in multilateral institutions.
