PM Modi Opens 18th BRICS Summit in Delhi, Champions Global South Reform
PM Modi opened the 18th BRICS Summit in Delhi, positioning India as a non-Western bridge for Global South economic reforms.
NEW DELHI — Bharat Mandapam stood at the center of global diplomacy on Saturday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the 18th BRICS Summit, outlining an ambitious agenda centered on realigning international governance while protecting national economic interests.
Hosting the summit for the fourth time under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," India is using its chairship to guide the expanded 11-member grouping. Rather than allowing the forum to morph into an anti-Western bloc, New Delhi’s strategy focuses on transforming BRICS into a constructive platform for reform.
Core Priorities Driven by New Delhi
- Redefining the Agenda: Prime Minister Modi delivered a clear operational directive to member states: "BRICS must be a rule-shaper, not a rule-breaker." The opening sessions prioritized fixing representation in global bodies like the UN Security Council and the IMF, ensuring developing economies secure a decisive voice in global policy decisions.
- Exporting Indian Tech Capabilities: India took center stage by offering its proven Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) model—including UPI and open-source verification systems—to member nations. The goal is to accelerate financial inclusion and cross-border connectivity across the Global South without relying exclusively on legacy Western networks.
- Pragmatic Currency Frameworks: On financial integration, India pushed a balanced path. While advocating for expanded local-currency settlements to lower transactional friction for Indian exporters, New Delhi drew a firm line against creating a unified "BRICS currency" or enforcing anti-dollar mechanisms.
- Protecting Maritime Interest: Highlighting energy security and supply-chain vulnerabilities, India moved to establish a dedicated BRICS Seafarers’ Network to safeguard merchant marine crews navigating high-risk trade routes.
High-Stakes Diplomacy on Home Turf
Beyond the formal assembly, hosting the summit provides New Delhi a strategic environment for side-table negotiation. A primary focus of the weekend remains high-level bilateral engagements between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. With discussions focused on border stability, restoring direct commercial flights, and managing bilateral trade imbalances, India continues to demonstrate its ability to navigate complex regional dynamics while maintaining strong ties with Western partners.
With over 350 preliminary engagements held across 25 Indian cities throughout the year, New Delhi’s presidency underscores its strategic positioning: serving as the principal voice of the Global South without compromising its non-aligned diplomatic posture.