SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called for urgent reform of global institutions, a stronger collective fight against terrorism, and a renewed focus on responsible use of Artificial Intelligence, as he addressed the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The two-day summit, hosted by Brazil on July 6 and 7, witnessed high-level deliberations among the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and invited partner countries, according to a PIB handout.
Thanking Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for his warm hospitality and for the successful conduct of the summit, Prime Minister Modi participated in two major thematic sessions — the first on “Reform of Global Governance and Peace and Security”, and the second on “Strengthening Multilateralism, Economic-Financial Affairs and Artificial Intelligence”.
Addressing the inaugural session, Modi underlined India’s consistent advocacy for a greater role for the Global South in international decision-making. He stressed that the institutions created in the 20th century — including the United Nations Security Council, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization — lacked the structural and political capacity to effectively address contemporary global challenges. He reaffirmed that only a multipolar and inclusive world order can ensure peace and progress in the 21st century, and welcomed the strong and unequivocal language on UN Security Council reform in the summit’s final declaration. Modi specifically thanked the BRICS leaders for acknowledging the urgency of expanding the UNSC to include greater representation from the developing world, and for reiterating support to the aspirations of countries like India and Brazil to play a larger role in the UN system.
Turning to the subject of global peace and security, the Prime Minister made a pointed reference to the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead. He described the attack as not just a blow to India, but as an assault on humanity as a whole. He urged the international community to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism, calling for strong action against those who finance, promote, or provide sanctuary to terrorists. Modi warned against double standards in counter-terrorism efforts and thanked the BRICS leaders for condemning the Pahalgam attack in the strongest possible terms in the joint declaration. He also highlighted that conflicts from West Asia to Europe remain a matter of grave concern and reiterated India’s call for resolution through dialogue and diplomacy. India, he added, is prepared to contribute meaningfully to such peace efforts.
Later in the day, during his address in the session on multilateral cooperation, economic and financial affairs, and artificial intelligence, Modi emphasised that BRICS must emerge as a force that strengthens global stability. He said that the values of diversity and multipolarity remain the group’s most enduring strengths, particularly in a global climate marked by uncertainty and shifting geopolitical dynamics. He noted that BRICS has a unique opportunity to shape a fairer world order and offered several ideas to enhance its relevance. These included the need for the BRICS-led New Development Bank to adopt a demand-driven and sustainability-based approach to financing, the establishment of a science and research repository to support innovation in the Global South, strengthening supply chains for critical minerals to enhance resilience, and a balanced approach to Artificial Intelligence that upholds ethical governance while encouraging innovation.
At the conclusion of the leaders’ deliberations, the member countries adopted the Rio de Janeiro Declaration, which represents one of the strongest statements yet from BRICS on both terrorism and global governance reform. In paragraph 34, the declaration condemned the Pahalgam terror attack “in the strongest terms”, reaffirmed the commitment to fight terrorism in all its forms, and called for zero tolerance and an end to double standards in dealing with terrorist threats. The leaders also urged the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism under the UN framework.
In paragraph 6, the declaration reiterated the bloc’s support for comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council to make it more democratic, representative and effective. It underlined the need for increased representation of developing countries, particularly from Africa, Asia and Latin America, and affirmed support for the aspirations of both India and Brazil to assume greater responsibilities within the UN.
With discussions touching on global challenges ranging from terror to technology, the Rio Summit underscored the growing strategic importance of BRICS in shaping the future of multilateralism.
