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In an extraordinary virtual meeting held on September 8, 2025, BRICS leaders convened under Brazil’s presidency to articulate a unified position against what they described as growing geopolitical instability, unilateral trade barriers, and systemic failures in global governance.  Image Source: Ayushi Pandey on X Initiated by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the closed-door summit was attended by heads of state and senior officials from Brazil, China, Russia, India, South Africa, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. At the core of the summit’s agenda was the need to overhaul multilateral institutions, beginning with the United Nations and its Security Council, which BRICS leaders collectively agreed no longer reflected the realities or interests of the wider international community, particularly the Global South.  The timing of the meeting--just weeks before the UN General Assembly, COP-30, and the G20 Leaders’ Summit --was viewed as a...

In a tightly coordinated virtual summit hosted under Brazil’s presidency of BRICS, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva convened leaders from across the bloc on Friday to push for bold reform of international institutions, deeper multilateral engagement, and expanded cooperation among Global South nations amid mounting global instability. Image Source: RT_India The meeting, which lasted over an hour, brought together top leaders from China, Russia, South Africa, Iran, Indonesia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE. India was represented by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, while Ethiopia sent its Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs. The timing of the summit -- just weeks ahead of key global forums like the 80th United Nations General Assembly, COP-30 in Brazil, and the G20 Leaders’ Summit -- underscores BRICS’s growing ambition to play a more assertive role in shaping global governance. A Reaffirmation of Institutional Reform At the heart of the summit was a shared call to reform mu...

Chinese President Xi Jinping used the BRICS virtual summit on Friday to deliver a forceful message calling for the reform of global governance structures, including the United Nations and its Security Council, while sharply criticizing unilateralism and trade protectionism as threats to global peace and development. Image Source: Mao Ning Xi’s address came amid escalating global tensions, supply chain disruptions, and increasing concern among developing countries over their marginalization in international decision-making.  He identified the BRICS grouping--comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa--as uniquely positioned to lead the charge for a more just and equitable world order. Call for Reformed Multilateralism Xi underscored the growing urgency for systemic reform in global governance, pointing to “hegemonism, unilateralism, and protectionism” as destabilizing forces.  Without naming any country directly, his remarks clearly referenced the rising wave o...

At a significant moment of geopolitical flux, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar used the platform of the BRICS Leaders’ Virtual Summit to issue a sharp indictment of the global governance system , urging urgent reform of the United Nations and its Security Council , while forcefully condemning the weaponisation of trade and selective sanctions regimes . Image Source: EAM Jaishankar Representing Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the summit hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , Jaishankar warned that rising conflicts, systemic inequality, and institutional paralysis have left the multilateral system incapable of addressing the world’s most pressing challenges -- from war and climate change to economic fragmentation. Multilateral System ‘Failing the World’ In his remarks, Jaishankar said the multilateral framework was being tested like never before, citing the pandemic’s aftermath, armed conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, extreme climate events, and ...

Russian President Vladimir Putin has embarked on an intensive round of telephone diplomacy following his high-stakes meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, briefing leaders across Asia, Africa, and Latin America on the summit’s outcome and on prospects for ending the war in Ukraine. Image Source: White House According to official readouts from the Kremlin and regional administrations, Putin spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Tajikistan’s Emomali Rahmon, and Kyrgyzstan’s Sadir Japarov.  The calls, made over the weekend, were aimed at consolidating support for Russia’s narrative of a constructive dialogue with Washington while highlighting Moscow’s willingness to pursue a negotiated settlement. In India’s case, the Kremlin said both leaders “discussed the prospects for a long-term settlement of the crisis in Ukraine and agreed to continue dialogue on this issu...

In a direct response to rising economic pressure from the United States, India and Brazil today once again stated their strategic alignment through a high-level phone call between their leaders, discussing the next phase of BRICS coordination, bilateral trade expansion, and multilateral economic stability.  The conversation follows a dramatic escalation in Washington’s tariff regime, with both India and Brazil now facing steep U.S. duties and political pressure over their respective engagements with Russia. Image Source: PM NaMo on X The leaders, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva,  reviewed outcomes from the Indian prime minister’s state visit to Brazil last month and confirmed a reciprocal visit by the Brazilian president to India in early 2026.  Ahead of that, Brazil’s vice president will lead a senior delegation to India in October for a Trade Monitoring Mechanism dialogue, expected to focus on defense, energy, d...

In a sweeping escalation of the U.S.’s geoeconomic confrontation with key BRICS nations, President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an Executive Order doubling tariffs on India, from 25% to 50%, citing New Delhi’s continued import of Russian oil.  The move, grounded in national security law under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), signals a dramatic hardening of Washington’s stance amid a breakdown in post-Cold War economic consensus.  File Photo: GirJPG The order asserts that India, by importing crude oil and petroleum products of Russian origin “directly or indirectly,” is undermining U.S. foreign policy and national security goals.  Trump’s directive states:  “Articles of India imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 percent... This shall stack on top of the existing 25% rate announced earlier this week.” The new tariff regime takes effect 21 days from the order...

A wave of hardening rhetoric and punitive economic measures from Washington has triggered growing resistance across BRICS nations, as Brazil, India, and Russia face what officials describe as “targeted pressure” from the United States under President Donald Trump . On Tuesday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stated flatly that he would not be calling Trump to discuss escalating trade tensions. “I will not call Trump because he does not want to talk,” Lula told reporters, amid a fresh 50% tariff hike on Brazilian imports by the US . Image Source: PM NaMo on X The standoff follows Washington’s controversial decision to sanction Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes under the Global Magnitsky Act.  The U.S. Treasury accuses de Moraes of leading “politicised prosecutions” against former President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces coup-related charges. Brazil rejected the move as “foreign interference” and reaffirmed the independence of its judiciary. In pa...

Amid escalating diplomatic tensions with Washington, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Tuesday said he will not reach out to U.S. President Donald Trump. He declared: “I will not call Trump because he does not want to talk.” The comment, first reported by Reuters, comes in the wake of a significant deterioration in Brazil-U.S. ties. File Photo Source: exame on X The rift was exacerbated this week after the Trump administration imposed a sweeping 50% tariff on Brazilian imports.  While Trump had earlier stated that Lula was welcome to contact him “anytime” to resolve trade disputes, Lula has made it clear that he will not initiate the conversation. Brazil’s finance minister, Fernando Haddad, had described Trump’s stated openness as “great,” adding that Lula would be open to a call.  However, Lula's latest statement signals a hardened posture, as Brazil absorbs both economic and political pressure from Washington. The tensions extend beyond trade. Last week, the...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the session on "Environment, COP30, and Global Health" at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, asserting India’s longstanding commitment to ecological balance and inclusive development.  Thanking Brazil for placing the environment and health on the agenda, Modi emphasized that climate change for India is not just a matter of energy, but a civilizational duty rooted in ancient values of harmony between life and nature.  Image Source: PM NaMo on X He underlined that despite being the world’s fastest-growing major economy, India was the first country to achieve its Paris Agreement goals ahead of schedule, and added that for India, climate justice is not an option but a moral duty.  He called for the transfer of climate technologies and affordable climate finance to ensure equitable global progress. Modi cited flagship Indian initiatives such as Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (Tree for M...

At the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, India stood in alignment with fellow Global South nations in issuing one of the bloc’s strongest joint declarations yet—championing international law, condemning unilateral military actions, and calling for inclusive global governance rooted in peace, dignity, and development. The Rio Declaration, adopted on July 7, reflects a shared urgency to reset the moral and geopolitical compass of the international order. India, a founding BRICS member, played a key role in shaping a consensus that echoes the priorities of over two-thirds of humanity: sovereignty, justice, ceasefire, and self-determination. Image Source: PMNaMo on X The declaration firmly condemned military strikes on Iran since June 13, calling them violations of the UN Charter and international law. Expressing deep concern over the risk of escalation in the Middle East, it warned against attacks on civilian infrastructure and safeguarded nuclear facilities.  India, echoing the ...

India is set to reinforce its commitment to global cultural cooperation as it prepares to participate in the upcoming BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting , scheduled for May 26, 2025 , in Brasília, Brazil . The Indian delegation will be led by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat , who will represent New Delhi at this high-level multilateral gathering. Image Source: GSS on X The meeting comes at a strategically important time for India, which is actively deepening its diplomatic engagements through initiatives such as Operation Sindoor —a 33-capital outreach focusing on counterterror diplomacy—and recent bilateral cultural exchanges with nations including Germany , South Korea , and Congo . The BRICS forum—comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa —offers India a platform to shape global cultural narratives while advancing people-to-people ties. This year’s meeting will focus on strengthening multilateral cultural cooperation, enhancing instit...

India strongly advocated for equitable trade rules and deeper cooperation within the Global South at the 15th BRICS Trade Ministers’ Meeting, hosted under Brazil’s Presidency. Speaking against export controls among BRICS members, India urged mutual support and highlighted its commitment to a transparent, rules-based multilateral trading system.  Image Source: Wiki/Representational only. Representing India, Economic Adviser Yashvir Singh stressed the need to eliminate restrictive measures that disrupt supply chains and called on developed nations to enable concessional transfer of green technologies .  A speech delivered on behalf of Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal commended Brazil’s consensus-driven approach and welcomed Indonesia’s induction into BRICS . The meeting culminated in a Joint Declaration and three key frameworks focused on WTO reform, digital economy governance, and sustainable trade—...

The New Development Bank (NDB) , founded by BRICS nations, has announced the admission of Algeria as its newest member, reinforcing the bank’s outreach among emerging economies. The Shanghai-based institution confirmed the move in a statement issued on Thursday. Algeria formally became a member after submitting its instrument of accession on May 19 , as outlined under the bank’s founding agreement. The inclusion is part of the NDB’s ongoing efforts to broaden participation beyond its original members — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa . Welcoming the development, NDB President Dilma Rousseff noted Algeria’s strategic economic significance both in North Africa and globally , adding that its entry would help strengthen the bank’s international presence and impact. The NDB was set up in 2015 with a mandate to fund infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS countries and other developing nations. Algeria’s accession is seen as a step towards diversifyin...