A STRONGER Global South

Deepak Dwivedi

HELD in the midst of polarising wars in the Middle East and Central Asia, the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro signalled a stronger Global South and less dependence on the West.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised the summit that India plans to give a “new form” to the BRICS next year, when it takes over the leadership from its current president Brazil. “Under India’s BRICS presidency, we will work to define BRICS in a new form. BRICS will mean Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability. Just as, during our G20 chairmanship, we gave priority to the issues of the Global South in the agenda,” he said.

BRICS Summit was the last and most critical part of the agenda of PM Modi during his hectic five nation foreign visit during which he visited Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia.

Multilateral fora

The Rio Declaration 2025 signed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa reflected an unconcealed frustration with the Westdominated multilateral fora – the UN Security Council, IMF and the World Bank – no longer reflecting the geopolitical and economic weight of emerging economies.

Even before its latest expansion, the bloc collectively represented over 40 per cent of the world’s population and a significant chunk of global GDP. With the addition of new members such as Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE, BRICS is evolving into an even more formidable economic coalition.

The grouping adopted multiple positions at odds with Donald Trump, expressing “serious concerns” over trade tariffs, blasting soaring defence spending, and condemning airstrikes on Iran, a member of the BRICS. Other countries are queueing up to participate as partners. Brazil hands over the presidency to heavyweight India. As Trump sweeps all before him, BRICS – for all its shortcomings – is getting increasingly hard to ignore.

Pahalgam condemnation

For India, condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack – that was skipped in the SCO document that India refused to sign – in the official declaration was a welcome addition. The summit also endorsed India’s stand on terrorism and pushed for inclusion of Brazil and India as permanent members of the UN Security Council.

With Indonesia joining the group and other countries on the line, Indian is set to leverage it to elevate its position in global affairs. India is experiencing robust economic growth with the services sector being a major contributor. This can benefit Indian companies to expand, have access to global supply chains and markets. The summit sought to reinvent a collective approach to global problems that was less dependent in the West.

PM Modi’s just-concluded latest visit to Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean – his longest in the third term – has put him in a position to shape global discussions on trade, security, and development as the world faces unprecedented economic and political challenges.

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