BRICS Summit in New Delhi Wraps Up with Focus on Resilience and Inclusive Growth
BRICS and partner country leaders met in New Delhi for the final day of the summit, discussing resilience, innovation, and cooperation amid global challenges.
The second and final day of the BRICS summit hosted by India took place in New Delhi on Sunday, bringing together leaders from member states and partner countries. The closing session, titled 'Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth,' focused on addressing shared global challenges.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed several dignitaries, including Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima, Ugandan Vice President Jessica Alupo, Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The leaders later posed for a group photograph, with Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the front row.
In his address, Modi highlighted the interconnected nature of modern crises. "Pandemics, climate disasters and supply chain disruptions have shown that, in today's interconnected world, no problem is limited to one region," he said, emphasizing that BRICS has prioritized building resilience. He also warned against the weaponization of technology and critical minerals, calling for inclusivity in technological adoption to ensure natural progress for all.
BRICS, founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, has expanded to include South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. It also has ten partner countries: Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. The grouping has sought to amplify the voice of developing nations and promote alternatives to Western-dominated financial institutions.
On Saturday, the leaders expressed concern over rising Middle East tensions and condemned sanctions not authorized by the United Nations. They also voiced unease about attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities, in a statement indirectly criticizing U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. The leaders opposed unilateral sanctions, with Russia facing Western measures following its invasion of Ukraine.
Modi reiterated that BRICS is not opposed to the West but aims to secure a greater voice for developing economies in global affairs.