Modi flags weaponisation of tech, critical minerals

Warning against the "weaponisation" of technology and access to critical minerals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted new BRICS initiatives to strengthen supply chains and increase resilience against disruptions, pandemics, and climate disasters. 

Putin suggests BRICS grain trade to fight global curbs

Under crippling sanctions by Western powers over the war with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday proposed a new insurance mechanism and a collaborative grain market among BRICS nations for economic growth of the bloc as well as the Global South nations. 

Building consensus

The 18th BRICS Summit pushed for changes in traditional power equations

Reaffirming the importance of reformed multilateralism in a world riven with unilateral actions by superpowers emerged as a binding theme of the 18th BRICS Summit and the New Delhi Declaration. The Summit's success could be measured by three main parameters the participation of members at the highest levels, the importance given to intra-BRICS trade cooperation mechanisms and the consensus achieved by Indian negotiators in forging a joint statement in a time of war. 

At BRICS, India must bank on the NDB

• BRICS' growing economic and demographic weight has not been matched by greater influence at institutions such as the IMF, while divisions among members prevent it from developing a coherent geopolitical identity

• The NDB remains one of BRICS' most tangible economic instruments, but its lending and disbursement have lagged behind the AIIB, with weak asset growth and constraints arising from sanctions on Russia and the bank's voting structure. 

India engages in broad-based dialogue with African countries to consolidate strategic ties

Months after postponing the India-Africa Forum Summit because of the Ebola crisis, New Delhi has started a broad-based dialogue with African countries, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaging multiple African leaders on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit that concluded on Sunday.

Modi's bilateral meets put defence, security cooperation in focus

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bilateral engagements with leaders from Asia and Africa on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sunday emphasised defence and security cooperation, alongside trade, technology and strategic partnerships, as India sought to deepen its engagement with key partners across the Global South.