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India participated in the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which began in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod on Monday. This marks the first foreign policy assignment for India under the historic third consecutive term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Representing India, Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), led the Indian delegation at the meeting.

 

The meeting commenced with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov opening the session. He began with a minute of silence in memory of the deceased former Iran President Ebrahim Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, offering condolences to the people of Iran and the families of the victims.

 

The meeting saw the participation of several distinguished guests including South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor, Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira, UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shokri, among others.

 

The heads of delegations also posed for a family photo ahead of the meeting, a tradition for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ gatherings. The Russian Foreign Ministry shared the photo on social media, highlighting the camaraderie and unity among the participants.

 

This meeting is significant as it is the first gathering of foreign ministers since the expansion of BRICS in 2023. The group now includes ten full members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia. Russia assumed the chairmanship of BRICS on January 1, 2024.

 

In his opening remarks, Sergey Lavrov welcomed the delegates to Nizhny Novgorod, a city with a rich history spanning over 800 years. Lavrov emphasised that the expansion of BRICS is a clear indication of the emergence of a multipolar world order.

 

He stated that new centres for globally significant political decisions are emerging from the states of the Global South and East, which advocate for a more just world order based on sovereign equality and civilizational diversity.

 

Lavrov criticised the United States and its allies for attempting to maintain their dominance by using economic instruments as weapons through sanctions and financial blackmail to influence the development models and trading partners of sovereign states. He highlighted that the West has not hesitated to use force, citing examples such as Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine, and others.

 

Lavrov stressed that Russia supports a more equitable world order based on sovereign equality and the balance of forces and interests. He noted that recent international events have revealed the true intentions of those who claim to define 'universal values' under the guise of a 'rules-based order.'

 

According to Lavrov, these supporters of the concept are trying to impose norms and mechanisms beneficial only to themselves, replacing equal dialogue with narrow coalitions that claim to represent the whole world.

 

Lavrov asserted that BRICS is an association where principles of equal cooperation are practiced, and he expressed confidence that the group's role in solving global problems will continue to grow.

 

He concluded by expressing hope for productive discussions at a separate session with the participation of several like-minded BRICS countries, reinforcing the collective approach to international development and cooperation.

 

This BRICS meeting in Russia underscores the commitment of its member states to work together towards a multipolar world order and equitable global governance.

 

The participation of India in this meeting signals its active engagement in shaping the future of international relations and addressing global challenges through collaborative efforts.