Conceived, originally as a concept by Goldman Sachs’s economist Jim O’Neil in his study titled “The World Needs Better Economic BRICs” in 2001, that has great economic potential and capability to emerge as a counterweight, BRIC (the first letters of all the respective countries) came into existence much later. In September 2006, Foreign Ministers of Brazil, Russia, India and China met along the sidelines of the 61st UNGA session and decided to work together. Russia, then part of the G8 initiated the creation of BRIC.
With no
clear-cut laid-out charter and a secretariat, this informal group slowly
acquired a degree of working comfort over the years. By 2011 at the Third
Summit of Leaders at Sanya in China, South Africa joined it making it BRICS. BRICS,
a motley group of countries with divergences and asymmetries invited a lot
of scepticism and incertitude initially. However, over the years, the BRICS
have evolved a common agenda and gained prominence thanks to its growing
economic muscle.
After the
expansion of BRICS in 2023 and the potential joining of new countries-
Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the UAE- the BRICS now represents 45% of the world’s
population and accounts for one-third of the global economy.
Ostracised
as a Pariah state amid the Ukraine war, the 16th BRICS Summit
hosted by Russia at Kazan was attended by the leaders and representatives of
over 30 countries. has distinctly
accentuated the international stature of Moscow. Condemning Moscow’s aggression,
the West slapped several rounds of punitive sanctions to cripple
the Russian economy and erode its global influence. The West has even
started routing the interests from the frozen Russian assets to Ukraine’s war
efforts. But to their consternation, notwithstanding their isolationist approach
and demonisation of Russia, several countries still chose to rally behind BRICS,
an organisation helmed by Russia.
Ahead of the Kazan
Summit, 34 countries have officially applied for BRICS membership. Of them, 13
countries - Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia,
Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam were designated as
BRICS Partner Countries. The list includes several countries that defied the
West’s sanctions. The expanded BRICS grouping heralding the developmental
aspirations and capabilities of the members and observers signified the
emergence of a robust grouping. A group,
intently non-west is fervidly seeking solutions to the outstanding issues amid
geopolitical conflicts, economic uncertainties and looming technological
challenges.
The
post-World War II World order dominated by the West and multilateral
institutions is proving to be ineffectual in catering to the developmental
needs of emerging economies. With the global power shifting from the West to
the East with the rise of China, the relevance of the US-led world is in the doldrums.
The so-called non-West essentially includes the Global South. Akin to BRICS,
the Global South is not a unified entity. It is an ensemble of fledgling
democracies, authoritarian regimes, Islamist regimes and even failed states.
But what brought them together was their consensus on a myriad
of concerns.
Reeling
under the collective economic shocks of COVID-19 and the Ukraine War,
the Global South is finding itself at the receiving end of the geopolitical
conflicts. The existing Western multilateral institutions are failing to
address these global challenges. The US's increasingly overbearing disposition,
cavilling the neutral stance and strategic autonomy of nations is compelling them
to strengthen alternatives to the US-dominated global order. Despite the inherent incongruencies in the
BRICS, given its growing economic heft, countries are willing to be part of a
flexible group which isn’t dominated by a single power or hijacked by a single
narrative.
Wary of the
divisive tactics of the US and its unprincipled military intervention under the
pretext of democratising nations, countries are advocating for a multipolar
world. A world order that prioritises dialogue and partnership over
confrontation. Aptly reflecting the collective hankerings of nations, the theme
of the Kazan Summit “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global
Development and Security” has chartered a framework to tackle the global
challenges.
Positioning
as the leader of the Global South, India has been objectively voicing out the
problems of the Global South at international forums. With the induction of
the African Union into the G20, India has showcased its commitment.
Unlike Russia and China which are perceived to be anti-West, India which
maintains good ties with the US is considered a neutral power.
Incidentally,
PM Modi’s bilateral with President Xi after five years along the sidelines of
the BRICS had also sent a strategic message to nations about India’s foreign
policy. India has burnished its
credentials as a strong and amiable nation by reaching a consensus on the
border dispute with China. Refusing to meekly surrender, India strongly
repulsed Chinese incursions for over four years. Alongside, India
patiently engaged in painstaking commander-level talks and diplomacy to resolve
the issue peacefully.
Parallelly,
India stood its ground in the face of the US’s secondment of Canada’s
malicious allegations. By calling the bluff of Canada for harbouring
secessionist elements New Delhi pulled back its High Commissioner shifting the
onus of resurrecting the bilateral ties on the Western nation. India’s
firm stance against Western machinations has earned it a special place. Demonstrating
its tough resolve in safeguarding its national interests amid direct assaults
by the superpowers, has certainly elevated its stature.
At the open
plenary of the BRICS Summit, PM Modi has set forth an agenda for
mitigating global challenges. He announced the proposed launch of
the BRICS Startup Forum and welcomed the “consensus reached within BRICS
on WTO reforms, trade facilitation in agriculture, resilient supply chains,
e-commerce and special economic zones (SEZ) for economic cooperation, BRICS
Open Carbon Market Partnership”. Highlighting the need for greater financial
integration and trade in local currencies, he cited India’s success with UPI
which is now adopted by so many countries.
Addressing
the major global challenge- climate change, PM Modi welcomed countries to join
Indian initiatives like Green Credit started at COP28, International Solar
Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Mission LiFE i.e.
Lifestyle for Environment, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam or a Tree in the name of the mother.
Modi also enunciated India’s Gati Shakti portal, the multi-modular connectivity
program, the BRICS Vaccine Research &Development Centre, the Railway
Research Network Initiative, the BRICS Business Council and the BRICS
Women Business Alliance.
To nurture
BRICS into an inclusive and diverse platform, Modi stressed the importance
of addressing the challenges faced by countries- economic uncertainty, food
security, health security, energy security, cyber security, climate change and
terrorism. At the closed plenary, advocating a people-centric approach,
Modi once again reinforced the need for diplomacy and dialogue, condemned the
double standards of certain nations towards terrorism and welcomed new partner countries.
PM Modi
strongly pitched the need for the introduction of reforms in global
institutions like UNSC, multilateral development banks and WTO. He appealed
to BRICS to collectively and unitedly raise voices. Putting speculations
to rest in unequivocal terms, Modi prompted, “BRICS must be careful to ensure
that this organisation does not acquire the image of one that is trying to
replace global institutions” and advised that BRICS should be perceived as an organisation
seeking to reform them.
Discernment
of BRICS as an anti-west grouping is misplaced. BRICS is essentially shaping as
a group of small countries endeavouring to find a balance of power and seeking
to “forge an alliance based on shared interests and mutual respect”.
EAM
Jaishankar who represented PM Modi at the BRICS Outreach Session declared that
the time for a multipolar world has arrived. For an equitable world order, he suggested
that independent platforms like BRICS must be strengthened and expanded. The
benefits of globalisation have been uneven. It is high time that distortions in
global infrastructure and production capabilities must be addressed for
the “just development” of all nations.
BRICS has
been a confluence of different outlooks and ideologies. However, over a period
of time, the organisation has evolved a framework on the basis of consensus.
Turning the inherent diversity into its strength, BRICS is attempting to make a
difference in providing an alternative financial infrastructure, transaction
systems, and payment methods to mitigate the impact of the unilateral
weaponisation of sanctions.
Cultivating
respect for each other's traditions, BRICS is making a fervent attempt to
advance socioeconomic progress and development of nations that attained
independence from Colonialism. Dialogue, coordination and cooperation are
essential to promote the BRICS spirit.
By disallowing the dominance of any single voice, BRICS is carving a
special place as an alternative multilateral organisation capable of
offering solutions to the longstanding complex issues.
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