Why this matters now
NAM is tested for: its Bandung 1955 origins, the Panchsheel principles, India’s founder status, the 19th Summit at Kampala (Uganda, January 2024), India’s declining engagement (PM Modi skipped 2016 Venezuela & 2019 Baku summits but attended 2020 virtual Baku and sent EAM Jaishankar to 2024 Kampala).
Origins (Bandung 1955 + Belgrade 1961)
The roots of NAM lie in the Asian-African Conference at Bandung, Indonesia, on 18-24 April 1955 — 29 newly-independent Asian and African nations. Hosted by Indonesian President Sukarno. Nehru, Zhou Enlai, Nasser, U Nu, John Kotelawala attended. The Bandung Conference adopted the 10 principles of Bandung including the famous Panchsheel (5 principles of peaceful coexistence) — mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference, equality and mutual benefit, peaceful coexistence.
Panchsheel was first articulated in the Sino-Indian Agreement on Tibet of 29 April 1954, signed by Nehru and Zhou Enlai.
The 1st NAM Summit at Belgrade on 1-6 September 1961 was attended by 25 countries + 19 observers. Founders: Nehru, Tito, Nasser, Sukarno, Nkrumah.
Membership criteria
The original NAM criteria (Belgrade 1961) required a state to:
- Follow an independent policy based on peaceful coexistence and non-alignment.
- Support national liberation movements.
- Not be a member of a multilateral military alliance concluded in the context of great-power conflict (e.g. NATO, Warsaw Pact).
- Not have a bilateral military agreement with a great power in the context of conflict.
- Not have military bases on its territory.
India @ NAM
India was a founder, hosted the 7th Summit at New Delhi (1983) and presided 1983-86. India’s NAM engagement has weakened: PM Modi skipped the 17th (Venezuela 2016) and 18th (Azerbaijan 2019) summits — the first PM to skip in NAM history. Modi did join the 2020 virtual NAM Summit during COVID. EAM Jaishankar represented India at the 19th NAM Summit at Kampala, Uganda (15-20 January 2024) — the Uganda Chair 2024-27.
NAM critique: relevance after Cold War (1991) is contested; some argue Indo-Pacific QUAD + I2U2 + IMEC are India’s new diplomatic vehicles.
UPSC angle
Know NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) — 1st Summit BELGRADE Yugoslavia 1-6 Sept 1961 founded by FIVE: Nehru (India) + Tito (Yugoslavia) + Nasser (Egypt) + Sukarno (Indonesia) + Nkrumah (Ghana); 121 members + 17 observers (largest grouping after UN); origins BANDUNG ASIAN-AFRICAN CONFERENCE 18-24 April 1955 Indonesia (29 newly-independent states, host Sukarno; Nehru/Zhou Enlai/Nasser/U Nu); Bandung adopted 10 principles incl PANCHSHEEL (mutual respect territory + non-aggression + non-interference + equality + peaceful coexistence) first articulated SINO-INDIAN AGREEMENT ON TIBET 29 April 1954 Nehru-Zhou; INDIA hosted 7th SUMMIT NEW DELHI 1983 chair 1983-86; Modi SKIPPED 17th Venezuela 2016 + 18th Azerbaijan 2019 (FIRST PM to skip in NAM history), attended 2020 virtual COVID NAM Summit; 19th Summit KAMPALA Uganda 15-20 Jan 2024 EAM Jaishankar attended, Uganda Chair 2024-27.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded NAM?
Five leaders at the Belgrade Summit 1961: Jawaharlal Nehru (India), Josip Broz Tito (Yugoslavia), Gamal Abdel Nasser (Egypt), Sukarno (Indonesia) and Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana).
What is Panchsheel?
Five principles of peaceful coexistence — mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference, equality and mutual benefit, peaceful coexistence. First articulated in the 1954 Sino-Indian Agreement on Tibet.
Where was the Bandung Conference?
At Bandung, Indonesia on 18-24 April 1955 — hosted by Sukarno. 29 newly-independent Asian and African countries attended. It was the precursor to NAM.
Where was the latest NAM Summit?
The 19th NAM Summit was at Kampala, Uganda on 15-20 January 2024. Uganda is NAM Chair for 2024-2027.