BRICS Leaders Call For Calm

BRICS leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, concluded two days of talks in New Delhi on Sunday, focusing on inclusive global growth, cooperation and rising geopolitical tensions.

Modi called for greater cooperation within the bloc, saying BRICS represents around 50 percent of the world’s population, 40 percent of global GDP and more than 25 percent of global trade.

“The power of BRICS lies in our diversity and cooperation,” Modi told the leaders on the final day of the summit.

“We have tried to push inclusive global growth,” he said, adding that countries within the group may have different realities but can advance through cooperation.

Putin said BRICS was working towards establishing a “new, more just, multipolar world order”, while Xi warned that a world without rules could descend into disorder.

“A world without rules is like an intersection without traffic lights; chaos and disorder are inevitable,” Xi said.

BRICS was established in 2009 as a platform for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in global institutions traditionally dominated by Western powers. The bloc has increasingly focused on issues including geopolitical conflicts, trade, energy security and its broader role in the global economy.

Leaders urge restraint over Middle East

The first day of the summit on Saturday was dominated by the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

BRICS foreign ministers failed to reach agreement on a joint statement during a meeting in New Delhi in May, with Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates divided over the conflict that began with US-Israeli strikes on February 28.

After intensive diplomatic efforts by India, BRICS leaders, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, reached agreement on a joint statement.

The statement expressed “deep concern” over the continued escalation of tensions in the Middle East and West Asia and called on all sides to exercise “maximum restraint”.

Modi has maintained relations with both Iran and US ally Israel while seeking to balance India’s strategic ties with Washington.

India has also sought to manage the energy crisis linked to the US-Iran conflict, including by relying on Russia for energy supplies despite Moscow’s war in Ukraine and pressure from the United States and other Western countries.

Xi and Modi seek closer ties

Xi’s participation in the summit was also closely watched as it marked his first visit to India since 2019 and represented the latest step in a cautious improvement in relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Relations deteriorated sharply following a deadly military clash along their disputed border in the Tibetan region six years ago. However, ties have gradually improved through the restoration of flights, visa arrangements and high-level diplomatic contacts.

During his meeting with Modi, Xi said the two countries could benefit from their differences and work together despite their contrasting circumstances.

“Although our two countries are different in many respects, they are fully capable of complementing each other’s strengths, supporting one another, achieving mutual success and advancing together,” Xi said, according to a video released by New Delhi.