At the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro on July 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged BRICS member nations to collaborate in securing critical mineral supply chains, warning against the concentration and weaponisation of these essential resources by any single country.
His remarks come against the backdrop of a growing global supply crunch in rare earth metals, triggered by an export control order issued by China’s Ministry of Commerce in April. China currently controls about 90–95 per cent of global rare earth metal processing capacity, giving it significant leverage in strategic industries. “We need to work together to make supply chains for critical minerals and technology secure and reliable,” Modi said, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. “It’s important to ensure that no country uses these resources for its own selfish gain or as a weapon against others.”
Though he didn’t mention China directly, Modi’s message was seen as a veiled warning to Beijing, whose dominant position in the global supply chain has drawn international concern. The high-tech industries like electronics, clean mobility, and renewable energy depend heavily on rare earth metals. Originally consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the BRICS grouping currently has eleven members.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushed for comprehensive reforms of global governance organisations like the World Bank, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the United Nations Security Council in addition to bringing up the issue of critical minerals. He stressed the need to reflect the realities of the 21st century and give a stronger voice to developing countries in international decision-making.
Modi’s comments on critical minerals came just days after the Quad—a coalition comprising the US, India, Japan, and Australia—launched its own Critical Minerals Initiative. In a joint statement released on July 1, Quad nations pledged to strengthen economic security and resilience by working together to secure and diversify supply chains. During the BRICS Summit, Modi also highlighted India’s growing emphasis on technology cooperation, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI). He announced that India would host an “AI Impact Summit” next year to promote international coordination on AI applications.
“We see AI as a medium to enhance human values and potential. Working on the mantra of ‘AI for All’, we are actively using AI in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and governance in India,” Modi said. He also called for a global framework to ensure “Responsible AI” by establishing standards to verify the authenticity of digital content and prevent its misuse. India, which will host the next BRICS Summit in 2026, also used the platform to reaffirm its commitment to the Global South.
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