India has extended a warm welcome to Egypt, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia as they officially joined the BRICS grouping. Representatives from these nations participated in a crucial meeting of the bloc hosted by Russia, which assumed the rotating presidency on January 1.

The Indian delegation, led by senior diplomat Dammu Ravi, attended the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Nizhny Novgorod, Western Russia, on June 10. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed India's wholehearted embrace of the new members, describing the gathering as a significant event within the expanded BRICS family.

According to an official statement, ministers at the meeting welcomed the active participation of the new BRICS members and assured them of continued support for their seamless integration into BRICS cooperation mechanisms. They also exchanged views on major global and regional trends and issues.

All sides agreed on specific norms, including the promotion of multilateralism, adherence to international law, comprehensive reform of the United Nations, support for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), commitment to a successful COP29, coordination on global health within BRICS, condemnation of unilateral and discriminatory protectionist measures, promotion of an open and transparent WTO, and reforms in the global financial architecture.

The meeting, held on Monday, marked the first ministerial gathering since the 2023 expansion of BRICS, which saw Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE join Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as full-fledged members. Argentina had also been approved for admission but withdrew under President Javier Milei, citing timing concerns.

Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Dammu Ravi, led the Indian delegation at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Nizhny Novgorod. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi were present. Normally, the External Affairs Minister attends such meetings, but S Jaishankar was only re-appointed on Monday and could not attend the meeting in Russia.

Moscow has assumed the presidency of BRICS, which now includes 10 nations with the addition of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates as new members. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to initiate modalities for incorporating new categories of partner nations.

Putin highlighted that BRICS is expanding its support base with like-minded countries sharing principles of sovereign equality, openness, consensus, and the pursuit of a multi-polar international order and fair global financial system.

Under Russia’s presidency, over 250 events are scheduled, culminating in a BRICS summit in Kazan in October 2024. Putin mentioned that an additional 30 countries are prepared to engage in BRICS' multi-dimensional agenda.

Formed in September 2006 as BRIC, the grouping included Brazil, Russia, India, and China, expanding to BRICS in September 2010 with the addition of South Africa. Representing a quarter of the global economy, BRICS has been a key driver of worldwide economic growth.

Under Russia's presidency, priorities include strengthening BRICS' role in the international monetary system, enhancing inter-banking cooperation, and promoting the use of national currencies in trade. Cooperation in science, technology, healthcare, environment, culture, and sports are also focal points.

India has hosted the BRICS Summit in 2012, 2016, and 2021, with the theme for its 2021 Chairship focused on intra-BRICS cooperation.

Image source: PTI