BRICS summit opens in New Delhi with focus on global governance

The BRICS summit opened in New Delhi as international crises, from the war in Ukraine to tensions in West Asia and the global economic slowdown, cast a shadow over the meeting. The gathering is being held with a focus on global governance, economic cooperation and the role of Global South countries.

BRICS, founded in 2006, now comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates after its recent expansion. New Delhi has also hosted 10 partner and invited countries, including Belarus, Malaysia, Nigeria and Vietnam. The United Nations is also attending the summit at a high level.

Leaders of member states have arrived in New Delhi since yesterday. Russian President Vladimir Putin met the Indian prime minister after arriving and also took part in the India Inoprom industrial exhibition. Chinese President Xi Jinping has also travelled to India again after seven years, and his meeting with Narendra Modi is being described as one of the key sideline events of the summit.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also arrived in Delhi and, in his opening remarks, stressed the use of national currencies in trade among BRICS members. At the same time, leaders from several African and Asian countries have also come to Delhi.

Bilateral meetings are also taking place on the sidelines of the summit. Modi and Putin discussed expanding trade ties and nuclear energy cooperation, and the Russian president invited the Indian prime minister to visit Russia. Modi also met Abiy Ahmed, the prime minister of Ethiopia, to discuss economic and security cooperation.

The Modi-Xi Jinping meeting was held with the aim of easing border tensions and rebuilding ties after the Ladakh crisis. Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, has also held talks with Indian economic officials, including the head of the Adani Group.

The main topics of the summit include energy and food security, the resilience of supply chains, cooperation in the health and agriculture sectors, boosting intra-BRICS trade and investment, and the development of new technologies. Reforming global governance and increasing the role of the Global South in international decision-making are also among the key issues at this summit.

Today’s session is being held under the title “Inclusive Global Governance,” and the main meeting will continue tomorrow under the theme “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” However, differences among members over the war in Ukraine and crises in West Asia are seen as one of the challenges facing the summit.

New Delhi has been placed under tight security during the meeting. More than 30,000 security personnel have been deployed across the city, and Delhi police have imposed sweeping traffic restrictions. Roads leading to the convention centre have been closed, and the schedules of some domestic flights have also been changed.

BRICS was initially formed with five members, but in recent years it has expanded its membership in an effort to gain a more prominent place in the world’s economic and political order. The group usually presents itself as the voice of developing countries and the Global South against dominant international systems.