India to Redefine BRICS
During the 17th BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a bold shift in strategy as India prepares to assume the BRICS presidency in 2026. Modi proposed defining BRICS in a “new form” under the banner of Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability, signalling an intent to refresh the bloc’s charter around shared challenges and opportunities across the Global South.
Championing the Global South
Modi emphasized BRICS as a vehicle to amplify the voices of developing nations and correct systemic neglect. He spoke out against “double standards” faced by Global South countries on issues like climate finance, technology access, and sustainable development, advocating for a “people‑centric” and “humanity‑first” approach.
Demanding Institutional Reform
Reform of international governance was a central theme of Modi’s speech. He called for overhaul of institutions like the UN Security Council, IMF, World Bank, and WTO to reflect contemporary global power dynamics. Modi insisted that credibility lies in aligning global institutions with multipolar realities.
Security and Climate Justice
Modi used India’s BRICS platform to lead a united stance against terrorism, condemning the Pahalgam attack as an “assault on humanity” and rejecting any tolerance of terrorist funding or safe havens. He also framed climate justice as a moral duty, linking environmental and public health and reinforcing this priority as integral to India’s upcoming leadership.
Technology, AI, and Innovation Mandate
Modi proposed ambitious new initiatives for the bloc: creation of a BRICS science and research repository, development of AI impact summits, and shared critical‑mineral supply chain plans. He stressed responsible AI governance balancing innovation and regulation, and promoted India’s digital public infrastructure, UPI, Aadhaar, CoWIN, as exportable models for global cooperation.
Diversity as Strength, Coherence as Challenge
Pointing to BRICS’ strength in diversity, Modi noted the bloc encompasses both democracies and autocracies. Yet that diversity brings complexity, especially following its expansion to eleven members. India acknowledged the need for internal coherence on reform priorities even as the group works toward an inclusive global order.
Diplomatic Context and Absences
Key absences at the summit, China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, highlighted the shifting dynamics within BRICS. Modi and Brazil’s Lula seized this moment to recalibrate the bloc’s identity. Modi met with counterparts, including Lula and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, to push collective goals around digital diplomacy, green energy, and defence cooperation.
Building on Brazil’s Agenda
Brazil’s host presidency introduced a multilateral guarantee fund via the New Development Bank to spur infrastructure and climate investment in member countries. Modi endorsed those efforts while aiming to steer BRICS toward concrete cooperation on health, AI, and sustainable governance.
Strategic Balancing and Western Ties
Despite working through BRICS, India continues to cultivate ties with Western democracies. Modi stressed the importance of credibility through internal strength before pushing reforms, indicating India’s careful balancing of its role in BRICS alongside its Western alliances.
Looking Ahead to 2026 Presidency
As India prepares to take the BRICS helm in 2026, its leadership pledges a pragmatic yet transformative agenda. From integrating Global South aspirations to institutional reform, climate justice, tech cooperation, innovation, and governance, Modi’s vision is expansive. The challenge lies in translating that vision into actionable frameworks that resonate across BRICS’ diverse membership, and beyond.
With this roadmap, India positions itself to shape BRICS as a platform not just for influence, but for impact, reflecting the Global South’s ambition for a more equitable, resilient, and cooperative global order.
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