INDIA REGISTERS HUGE DIPLOMATIC VICTORY AT BRICS; TRUCE TALKS BETWEEN ISRAEL, HAMAS FAIL

WORLD RECAP

- ANSHU JOSHI

This week, Indian PM's five-nation tour significantly enhanced India's relationships within the Global South, yielding important advancements in the areas of critical minerals, defence, digital payments, trade and investment; and people-to-people connect. This visit resulted in substantial bilateral agreements with the five nations and marked the first international adoption of UPI. It also included the awarding of four prestigious civilian honors to Indian PM. Notably, this was his longest trip since assuming office in 2014, encompassing Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia, and featured participation in the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro.

India secured vital bilateral agreements, strengthened its development partnerships, and broadened its digital public infrastructure presence internationally. India also clearly called for the essential reforms in international organizations from the BRICS platform, garnering significant backing from the member countries.

PM Modi participated in the BRICS summit hosted by Brazil, which was the key purpose of this visit. BRICS added Indonesia as the new member extending its reach to southeast Asia. It should be noted that India is going to host the next BRICS summit.

At the BRICS Summit in Brazil, India focused on reforms in global governance, responsible AI, food and energy security and counter-terror cooperation. India successfully lobbied for the inclusion of the Pahalgam terror attack condemnation in the final declaration, which is considered as a diplomatic win of India. It was relieving to see Lula condemning the brutal Pahalgam terror attack and also echoed PM Modi's message of not sparing terrorism at any cost.