BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting
The tectonic plates of world history are moving in a dynamic fashion. Power is shifting from the West to East and from the North to the South. The shifting pattern is more than any other formation. It is a historic change. It is for the first time in modern era that the wealth and world’s population are concentrated in the same place. It is this change which has given rise to BRICS. The world is changing fast, so are the players. The gaze of the world is falling on BRICS.
This grouping is unlike other groupings—it consists of a former superpower, the superpower in the making and potential great powers in Asia, Africa and Latin America. BRICS has provided an alternative yet competitive narrative. More importantly, it has cast light on the role of great emerging powers, crucial for the stability and prosperity of the global economy. BRICS is a new constellation in international relations. It is more representative than the G7. BRICS has begun its second decadal journey.
The BRICS Foreign Ministerial meeting in Rio de Janeiro last week has displayed that vision by its unanimous and unflinching support for multilateralism and the central role of the UN in international affairs. Rather than trashing global governance institutions as has become fashionable in certain Western quarters, BRICS stands for reform in institutions like the UN, WTO and IMF. Considerable discussion was held among the member-countries on ways to strengthen the WTO. The Ministers underscored the importance of sustained efforts to make the UN more effective and efficient in implementing its mandates.
The foreign ministerial meeting called for concerted efforts to fight terrorism under the auspices of the UN on a firm international legal basis. India is perhaps most vocal and consistent in raising the threats from global and regional terror. No other country has perhaps been a victim of state-sponsored terror as India. New Delhi has spelt out a 5-point global strategy to fight the scourge—exchange of timely and actionable intelligence, prevention of misuse of modern communication through collaboration with private sector , building capacities for improved border controls, sharing of information related to movement of passengers and designation of counter-terror focal points to fight global terror.
The Ministers deplored terrorist attacks and condemned “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”. They also “recognized the progress that has been made on BRICS cooperation in countering terrorism through the BRICS Working Group on Counter Terrorism”. Gen. V K Singh, Minister of State for Roads, Transport and Highways, who represented India at the Rio gathering, referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 9-point agenda for action against fugitive economic offenders and asset recovery.
The BRICS foreign Ministers expressed concerns at the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa that have a bearing on regional and international situations. New Delhi felt vindicated as the Ministers laid emphasis on achieving an “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned” peace and reconciliation process that will ensure a peaceful, secure, united, stable and inclusive country that exists in harmony with its neighbours.
However, the discussion on Venezuela saw very different opinions among the BRICS members. While Russia reiterated its opposition to “interferences from outside”, Brazil called on BRICS to “heed the cries of Venezuelans”. There was, however, agreement that the political impasse in Venezuela must be resolved peacefully.
There were some uncertainties about the new President of Brazil when he took office early this year. Many expected President Bolsonaro to realign internationally, moving away from the developing countries and closer to the policies of Western leaders, particularly US President Donald Trump. But he has wholeheartedly supported BRICS and its agenda. The key pillars of Bolsonaro’s BRICS presidency-energy, peace, security, innovation, development finance well converge with the BRICS agenda. BRICS foreign ministers will have their next meeting on the margins of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York in September.
This grouping is unlike other groupings—it consists of a former superpower, the superpower in the making and potential great powers in Asia, Africa and Latin America. BRICS has provided an alternative yet competitive narrative. More importantly, it has cast light on the role of great emerging powers, crucial for the stability and prosperity of the global economy. BRICS is a new constellation in international relations. It is more representative than the G7. BRICS has begun its second decadal journey.
The BRICS Foreign Ministerial meeting in Rio de Janeiro last week has displayed that vision by its unanimous and unflinching support for multilateralism and the central role of the UN in international affairs. Rather than trashing global governance institutions as has become fashionable in certain Western quarters, BRICS stands for reform in institutions like the UN, WTO and IMF. Considerable discussion was held among the member-countries on ways to strengthen the WTO. The Ministers underscored the importance of sustained efforts to make the UN more effective and efficient in implementing its mandates.
The foreign ministerial meeting called for concerted efforts to fight terrorism under the auspices of the UN on a firm international legal basis. India is perhaps most vocal and consistent in raising the threats from global and regional terror. No other country has perhaps been a victim of state-sponsored terror as India. New Delhi has spelt out a 5-point global strategy to fight the scourge—exchange of timely and actionable intelligence, prevention of misuse of modern communication through collaboration with private sector , building capacities for improved border controls, sharing of information related to movement of passengers and designation of counter-terror focal points to fight global terror.
The Ministers deplored terrorist attacks and condemned “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”. They also “recognized the progress that has been made on BRICS cooperation in countering terrorism through the BRICS Working Group on Counter Terrorism”. Gen. V K Singh, Minister of State for Roads, Transport and Highways, who represented India at the Rio gathering, referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 9-point agenda for action against fugitive economic offenders and asset recovery.
The BRICS foreign Ministers expressed concerns at the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa that have a bearing on regional and international situations. New Delhi felt vindicated as the Ministers laid emphasis on achieving an “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned” peace and reconciliation process that will ensure a peaceful, secure, united, stable and inclusive country that exists in harmony with its neighbours.
However, the discussion on Venezuela saw very different opinions among the BRICS members. While Russia reiterated its opposition to “interferences from outside”, Brazil called on BRICS to “heed the cries of Venezuelans”. There was, however, agreement that the political impasse in Venezuela must be resolved peacefully.
There were some uncertainties about the new President of Brazil when he took office early this year. Many expected President Bolsonaro to realign internationally, moving away from the developing countries and closer to the policies of Western leaders, particularly US President Donald Trump. But he has wholeheartedly supported BRICS and its agenda. The key pillars of Bolsonaro’s BRICS presidency-energy, peace, security, innovation, development finance well converge with the BRICS agenda. BRICS foreign ministers will have their next meeting on the margins of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York in September.
Script: Ash Narain Roy, Director, Institute of Social Sciences, Delhi
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