Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned from the 2025 BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro with a clear diplomatic victory, particularly after recent challenges in India’s international outreach. The summit’s final declaration issued a firm condemnation of the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 lives were lost and many others were injured.
The BRICS statement explicitly denounced terrorism in all its forms, emphasizing the need to combat cross-border terrorism, terrorist financing, and sanctuary networks. It stressed that terrorism should never be linked to any religion, nationality, civilization, or ethnic group. While the declaration stopped short of naming Pakistan, the message was unambiguous—those responsible for terrorism and their sponsors must be held accountable according to both national and international law.
Modi’s Message: No Double Standards on Terrorism
During his speech at the summit, PM Modi stressed that condemning terrorism must be a matter of principle, not convenience. “We cannot weigh the victims of terrorism and its supporters on the same scale,” he stated, explicitly rejecting double standards. Many observers interpreted Modi’s remarks as a veiled criticism toward countries that have continued diplomatic engagement with Pakistan despite its alleged involvement in terrorist activities. U.S. and China came under particular scrutiny, following revelations that China provided intelligence support to Pakistan during recent operations and its ongoing blocking of India’s attempts to sanction Pakistan-based terrorists at the UN.
Beyond counterterrorism, India made clear its commitment to upholding strategic autonomy while amplifying the voice of the Global South. The 2025 BRICS summit’s theme—“Strengthening Global South Cooperation for Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”—was timely amid accelerating geopolitical shifts, increasing protectionism, and disruptions in global supply chains.
Coming soon after the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in the United States and in the midst of ongoing trade negotiations with the US, India found itself balancing multiple complex diplomatic pressures. Modi was candid in criticizing global inequities, pointing out that developing nations have only received “token gestures” regarding climate finance, sustainable development, and technology access.
BRICS’ expanding influence is underscored by its growth from five founding members—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—to a ten-member bloc, with additions such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Indonesia. Together, these countries represent nearly half of the world’s population and account for around 40% of global GDP.
Brazil’s presidency of the summit prioritized six strategic areas: global healthcare cooperation, trade and investment, climate change, governance of artificial intelligence, peace and security, and institutional reforms. Consistent with its long-standing goals, the BRICS reiterated calls for reforming the United Nations Security Council to better reflect the realities of the Global South.
The summit also addressed rising protectionism, though without direct references to any country. It expressed serious concern over unilateral tariff and trade measures that threaten to disrupt global commerce and supply chains, a clear signal amidst ongoing tensions with the US. The declaration further condemned military strikes in Iran and the conflict in Gaza, emphasizing peace without naming specific nations.
Modi’s remarks reiterated India’s vision for a multipolar world order where global institutions are reformed to keep pace with rapid technological change. “In the age of AI, where technology evolves every week, it’s unacceptable for global bodies to remain unchanged for eighty years,” he noted, underscoring India’s intent to be a proactive, reform-minded leader within BRICS.
On economic matters, while the idea of a common BRICS currency or cross-border payment system—championed by Russia in 2024—was not part of this year’s discussions, the bloc remains an economic powerhouse. BRICS countries are net exporters and major players in global trade, with total international trade valued at $10.5 trillion in 2024. India’s import share from BRICS nations has increased significantly, underlining its growing economic interdependence within the group.
Though BRICS has yet to advance a full-scale move toward de-dollarization, India is already promoting trade in local currencies with several member states, reflecting a broader trend toward diversification in global trade settlement.
As India prepares to take over the BRICS chairmanship in the upcoming year, Modi’s assertive stance at Rio signals the country’s deepening commitment to this international forum. His leadership style highlights coordination among developing countries as a counterbalance to unilateral actions shaping the global order. Notably, even traditionally critical international observers acknowledged Modi’s decisive role at the summit, marking India’s growing influence on the world stage.
India’s engagement with BRICS reflects a strategic approach—leveraging the bloc not just as a collective voice of the Global South, but as a platform to confront global challenges in an increasingly fractured geopolitical landscape. Whether BRICS can maintain its momentum and impact, especially in areas like global governance and economic reform, remains an important question for the future.
What this evolving dynamic means for the balance of power and global cooperation will be watched closely by nations around the world.
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