During his address at the 16th BRICS Summit’s limited plenary session on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s stance on promoting dialogue and diplomacy over war. “We support dialogue and diplomacy, not war,” PM Modi stated, referring to ongoing conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine.
Unified Effort Against Terrorism and Radicalization
PM Modi called for global cooperation to combat terrorism and its financing, urging BRICS nations to work together with “resolve and unity.” He stressed that double standards should not exist when dealing with such critical issues and highlighted the need for action to curb radicalization among the youth. He also emphasized the importance of moving forward on the comprehensive convention on international terrorism at the United Nations.
Key Meeting with Xi Jinping on India-China Relations
In Kazan, PM Modi participated in both narrow and expanded format meetings at the BRICS Summit. He is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for their first formal meeting in five years. This comes just days after India and China reached an agreement to resume patrolling in disputed areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, putting an end to a four-year military standoff.
Global Challenges: Inflation, Security, and Cyber Threats
In his speech, PM Modi also focused on pressing global challenges, including inflation, food and energy security, and health and water security. He urged BRICS nations to prioritize these issues, which are essential for countries worldwide.
Also Read: Can India Really Broker Peace Between Russia And Ukraine?
PM Modi also advocated for reforms in global institutions like the UN Security Council, Multilateral Development Banks, and the World Trade Organisation (WTO). He stressed that BRICS should aim to reform global institutions rather than replace them. “We must ensure BRICS does not appear as wanting to replace global institutions, but to reform them,” he noted.
Cybersecurity and AI: The Need for Global Regulations
Addressing the growing concerns in the digital age, PM Modi called for international cooperation on cybersecurity, deepfakes, and disinformation. He emphasized the need for safe and secure artificial intelligence regulations and expressed that there are high expectations from BRICS in addressing these modern technological challenges.
