North–South Cooperation Faces New Tests on NTS Challenges

Dr. Imran Ali Sandano

The global North and South are finding that traditional approaches to security no longer fit new challenges. Climate change, pandemics, cyberattacks, and migration are among the challenges that stop at borders. It is very hard to work together, but governments and communities must learn that they need each other more than before.  

It is true that for decades, security meant armies, weapons, and alliances. However, this perspective is changing at a larger level. Droughts destroy crops, forcing people to migrate. Pandemic outbreaks cut jobs and trade. Cyberattacks paralyze schools and hospitals. These cannot be called traditional wars, but they can still destroy the lives and economies of millions.

Many countries in the South often bear the most significant impact because they lack robust health systems and strong infrastructure. Countries in the North have more resources, but they still rely on stable partners in the South for raw materials, food, and safe trade routes. This creates more importance of cooperation.

At the 16^th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, ministers from Africa and Asia called for fairer access to technology and finance from the North. A delegate from Kenya said, “We want cooperation, not dependency. When we share data or open markets, we also need respect.” His comment drew quiet nods from others.

North American and European officials said they are trying to move from donor-recipient models to joint planning. A German delegate said his country had begun working with Senegal on renewable energy grids serving both urban and rural areas. It is about shared resilience rather than dependency.

Health cooperation is another test for the South and North. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep divides between them. Vaccines went first to wealthy and powerful nations, while others waited months. That left mistrust that still lingers.

However, some initiatives have been taken, and progress has been made. In this regard, the World Health Organization has launched training hubs for vaccine production in South Africa and Argentina. These centers could shorten response times in future pandemic outbreaks.

Climate security is also a prominent challenge on which both sides agree but differ in terms of responsibility. Countries in the South argue that they suffer most, though they contributed least to emissions. While the countries in North point to existing funds for green projects, critics say those amounts are tiny. Floods, fires, and heatwaves are rising, and aid can arrive.

Cybersecurity is a newer front in North–South cooperation. Many Southern countries have digital systems growing faster than their rules or protection. Hackers target them because defenses are weak. Northern countries have more advanced systems, but a single weak link anywhere can harm global networks.

Last year, a cyberattack on a port in Latin America delayed global shipping for days. Investigators found the attack had spread through outdated software. The port has now joined a joint North–South training program on digital safety. Such efforts are small but growing.

Migration is another sensitive area. Climate stress and poverty push people to move northward. Governments often treat this as a border issue, but experts say it is a security issue tied to livelihoods. Cooperation means investing in education and jobs in sending countries, so people are not forced to leave.

Several governments in North now talk about ‘shared responsibility.’ That means backing programs that reduce migration pressure instead of building only barriers. However, progress is uneven, and people continue to risk their lives at sea.

Many observers believe that trust is the hardest part of this cooperation. Historical legacy of the South as a colonial power, where resources were taken without fair return. The North worries about mismanagement and corruption in aid projects. Meaning, each side has reasons, but without trust, plans stall.

The transfer of the technology is one area where better rules would help. When a company from a northern country develops a clean-energy system, partners in the South often face high licensing fees. It limits local innovation.

Regional organizations are trying to fill gaps. The African Union has set up a Climate and Security Council. The ASEAN works with European partners on disaster management. These networks could test local ideas before expanding them globally.

Academics say success will depend on moving from ‘project’ thinking to ‘system’ thinking. One-off programs will not fix structural problems. For example, building a single seawall does not solve coastal erosion if land-use policies keep encouraging risky construction. Joint planning that combines science, local knowledge, and funding can do better.

The United Nations will review progress on nontraditional security cooperation later this year. Early reports show mixed results. Some regions have shared data and training more effectively. Others remain stuck in paperwork.

A senior UN official said, “We know what the challenges are. What is missing is consistent political will.” He noted that countries often act only after disasters occur. “We need prevention, not just response,” he added.

In the past few years, the idea of security itself has widened. It now includes food, water, and health. That shift has made cooperation across regions less optional and more essential. The North cannot buy safety if the South remains exposed. Moreover, South cannot grow if instability spreads elsewhere.

This debate may feel distant for ordinary people. However, their results shape daily life, as where food is grown, how medicine is supplied, and whether weather warnings arrive in time. When governments share information and resources, people benefit directly.

Yes, still obstacles remain, and power imbalances persist. Some countries in South feel trapped between promises and real action. In contrast, some countries in the North face their own political pressures and may cut budgets.

If cooperation deepens between the North and the South, it could redefine global security in this century. Less about force, more about survival together.