India on Monday wholeheartedly welcomed Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia joining BRICS as their representatives attended for the first time a key meeting of the grouping hosted by Russia.
In a significant development that marks the expansion of the BRICS group, India expressed its full support for the inclusion of Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia. This new expansion is seen as a step towards strengthening global cooperation among emerging economies. The historic meeting took place in Nizhny Novgorod, a city in western Russia, where senior diplomat Dammu Ravi represented India.
Key Delegation and Statements
Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, led the Indian delegation at the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. This meeting was notable not only for the presence of the newly admitted members but also because it underscored the collaborative spirit among the BRICS nations. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was reappointed only on Monday following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, preventing him from attending the meeting in Russia.
Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, emphasized the importance of this gathering by posting on X (formerly Twitter), “A significant meeting in the format of expanded BRICS family. India wholeheartedly welcomes the new membership.”
Expansion and Commitments
The meeting on Monday was the first ministerial meeting following the BRICS expansion in 2023. The inclusion of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE into the group marked a significant step in broadening the alliance’s reach and influence. These countries joined Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as full-fledged BRICS members, reflecting the evolving dynamics of international relations and economic partnerships.
The joint statement issued after the meeting reaffirmed the BRICS foreign ministers’ commitment to strengthening the BRICS Strategic Partnership. This partnership is built on three pillars of cooperation: politics and security, economy and finance, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. The ministers reiterated their dedication to multilateralism and the upholding of international law, including the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
United Nations and International Law
The BRICS ministers emphasized their support for a comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council. They advocated for making the UN more democratic, representative, effective, and efficient. This stance underscores the group’s commitment to ensuring that the UN reflects the realities of the current global order.
In their discussions, the ministers voiced their support for the central role of the UN in maintaining international peace and security, advancing sustainable development, and promoting democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms for all. They highlighted the importance of sovereign states cooperating within an international system based on these principles.
G20 and Economic Cooperation
The BRICS ministers recognized the critical role of the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation. They welcomed and supported the inclusion of the African Union as a member of the G20 at the recent G20 New Delhi Summit. This inclusion is seen as a step towards addressing global economic inequalities and fostering inclusive growth.
The ministers also noted the consecutive G20 presidencies of India, Brazil, and South Africa in 2023-2025. They expressed their support for continuity and collaboration in their G20 presidencies, emphasizing that these leadership roles provide a solid foundation for addressing imbalances in the global economy.
Conflicts and Peaceful Resolution
Expressing concern about ongoing conflicts in various parts of the world, the BRICS ministers reiterated their commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes. They advocated for diplomacy, inclusive dialogue, and consultations as means to achieve peaceful settlements of crises. This commitment to peaceful resolution reflects the group’s broader goal of maintaining international stability.
Regarding the situation in and around Ukraine, the ministers recalled their national positions as expressed in the appropriate fora, including the UN Security Council. They appreciated relevant mediation proposals aimed at peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy.
Palestinian Territory and Middle East Conflict
The BRICS ministers expressed grave concern over the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. They highlighted the unprecedented escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip, resulting from Israeli military operations that led to mass civilian displacement, casualties, and destruction of infrastructure. The ministers called for the effective implementation of UNSC resolution 2728, advocating for an immediate, durable, and sustained ceasefire.
They also called for the unconditional release of all hostages and civilians held captive and expressed concern over increasing attacks by Israel on Rafah. The ministers reaffirmed their rejection of any attempts to forcefully displace, expel, or transfer the Palestinian people from their land. They reiterated their support for Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations and their commitment to the vision of a two-state solution.
Afghanistan and Regional Stability
The BRICS ministers emphasized the need for an urgent peaceful settlement in Afghanistan to strengthen regional security and stability. They condemned any acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, and reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, terrorism financing, and safe havens.
The ministers stressed that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization, or ethnic group. They called for accountability for those involved in terrorist activities and urged the implementation of a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism.
Technology and Climate Change
In addressing emerging threats, the ministers expressed the need to strengthen mechanisms to counter the use of technology by terrorists and their supporters. They emphasized the importance of preventing the use of the Internet and other information and communications technologies for terrorist purposes.
On climate change, the ministers called on all parties to fully implement the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement. They opposed unilateral protectionist measures that disrupt global supply chains and distort competition.
Multilateral Trading System and Local Currencies
The ministers voiced their support for an open, transparent, fair, inclusive, equitable, non-discriminatory, and rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core. They underscored the importance of special and differential treatment for developing countries, including Least Developed Countries, as a foundational principle of the WTO.
Additionally, the ministers highlighted the importance of enhancing the use of local currencies in trade and financial transactions between the BRICS countries. This move is seen as a step towards reducing dependence on major international currencies and fostering greater economic cooperation within the group.
BRICS Chairmanship and Future Events
Russia assumed the year-long chairmanship of BRICS on January 1, 2024. The Russian presidency features more than 250 various events, with a BRICS summit in Kazan in October 2024 being the central one, according to Russia’s official TASS news agency.
This robust agenda reflects the group’s commitment to advancing its strategic objectives and addressing global challenges through collective action and cooperation. The inclusion of new members and the discussions held at the Nizhny Novgorod meeting underscore the dynamic and evolving nature of the BRICS alliance.
