BRICS Summit: Reaffirming Reformed Multilateralism

GS-II – International Relations | BRICS | Global South

Context

• Reformed Multilateralism: The binding theme guiding the 18th BRICS Summit and the New Delhi Declaration was a reaffirmation of reformed multilateralism in a world plagued by unilateral actions of superpowers.
• Success of the Summit: The success of the Summit was defined by three metrics — attendance (both the highest levels of participation by member states), treatment of intra-BRICS trade cooperation mechanisms, and cooperation achieved through a consensus-based joint statement amid war according to Indian negotiators.
• Iran and the UAE: Firstly, Iran and the UAE — two of the rival powers involved in the West Asian conflict — spent much time discussing this meeting: one should commend the government for not allowing its highest-level bilateral meeting since the war began to be wasted.
• New Delhi Declaration: In its 20th year, the BRICS presented itself as a formidable front with a New Delhi Declaration that had sceptics surprised given all the differences within the grouping.

BRICS Members and Consensus

• Saudi Arabia: Among BRICS members, Saudi Arabia’s position, on-track as it hasn’t yet been officially changed into a member on the top table either (though the presence of Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, arriving after the lead session when a joint statement was adopted Saturday) however, remains uncertain .
• Consensus: But it was the consensus in areas of global importance that remained strong among the other members.

New Delhi Declaration

• UN Security Council Reform: The statement called for the reform of the Security Council, advocated a bigger role for Brazil and India and proposed new initiatives in global governance.
• Western Sanctions and Tariffs: It denounced the western sanctions and tariffs, undertaking to enhance intra-BRICS commerce and improve trade in local currencies.
• Unilateral Wars: It also condemned the unilateral wars, though did not name any member.
• West Asia Conflict: The statement could not refer to a well-documented pattern of US-Israel attacks against Iran for the assassination of the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei or the retaliatory from Tehran with missiles falling on its neighbours, especially in UAE but this is understood as last-minutes compromise between both countries to be able to agree an unanimously text.
• Israel’s Position: It also took an extremely hard line about Israel’s actions in Palestine and Lebanon.

India’s BRICS Chairship

• Global South Balancer: By virtue of its fourth chairship of BRICS, India bolsters its Global South balancer reputation with easy access on both sides of a divided world while delivering bilateral upsides.
• India-Iran: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seen as being closely attentive to Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian with his hurt feelings somewhat assuaged when New Delhi appeared to be tilting towards the U.S. and Israel in the war4.
• India-China: Indian Prime Minister Mr Modi’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping also gave the two nations an opportunity to re-validate their political commitment to normalising relations.
• PLAYING UP ASEAN AND AFRICA: Meeting with key leaders of the ASEAN grouping plus those from African nations got overdue attention on India’s relations with them.

Conclusion

• This BRICS Summit will be remembered for a moment of solidarity among countries that have many differences but are together in desiring a shift in traditional power equations to one more driven by their emerging economies.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. “BRICS is an embodiment or at least an attempt to challenge the power equations on a global level by emerging economies.” Study in that space the importance of 18th BRICS Summit and New Delhi Declaration for reformed multilateralism.