07 JUL 2025, New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 6 to 7, 2025. Leaders from BRICS countries like Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa along with partner countries like Indonesia, came together to discuss global issues, including peace, security, global governance reforms, climate change, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
During the summit, PM Modi stressed the importance of reforming old global institutions like the United Nations Security Council, IMF, World Bank, and WTO. He said these groups were created in the 20th century and are no longer fit to handle the problems of today’s world. “We need a more fair and equal system where developing countries also have a strong voice,” he said.
Focus on Global South and Climate Justice
One of the key themes of the summit was supporting the Global South, a term used to refer to developing countries, especially in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. PM Modi said countries like India need more help in fighting climate change, and for that, rich countries should give more financial and technological support. He welcomed the efforts being made through the BRICS New Development Bank and suggested it should focus on long-term and demand-based projects.
The “Rio de Janeiro Declaration”, released at the end of the summit, clearly mentioned that developed countries must meet their promises on climate funding. It also supported Brazil’s new idea of creating a “Tropical Forests Forever Facility”, a fund that would help protect rainforests. The declaration also opposed some of the rules made by European countries, like carbon border taxes and anti-deforestation trade barriers, calling them unfair to developing nations.
Strong Words Against Terrorism
On the topic of peace and security, PM Modi strongly condemned terrorism. He spoke about the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, that took place in April 2025. Calling it an attack on the whole of humanity, he urged all countries to take strict action against those who fund or support terrorism. He said there should be no double standards, and countries offering safe havens to terrorists should be held accountable. BRICS leaders also supported India’s stand and condemned the attack in strong words.
India’s Stand on Conflicts and Diplomacy
The Prime Minister also talked about the growing tensions and conflicts in places like West Asia and Europe. He said that war is not the answer and that countries must talk and find peaceful solutions through dialogue and diplomacy. He also said India is always ready to help in any peace efforts around the world.
Suggestions for a Better Future
PM Modi also shared four key ideas during the summit to make BRICS stronger:
- The BRICS Bank should work based on the real needs of countries and aim for long-term, sustainable projects.
- A common Science and Research platform should be created for the Global South.
- BRICS countries should work together to secure critical minerals needed for industries and clean energy.
- There should be a balance in AI development, promoting innovation while ensuring proper rules to prevent misuse.
A More Inclusive BRICS
The summit welcomed Indonesia as a new member of BRICS and focused on making the group more inclusive. Leaders said BRICS now has a bigger role to play in building a fair and multipolar world, where no single country dominates, and every nation has equal say.
In conclusion as with global conflicts, climate issues, and economic uncertainty growing, this year’s BRICS Summit sent out a clear message: developing countries must work together more closely, and international institutions must be updated to reflect today’s realities. PM Modi’s speech strongly supported this vision and showed India’s active role in shaping a fairer world.
The Rio Declaration is expected to guide future BRICS actions in areas like climate change, sustainable development, terrorism, and global governance reforms.
Source: PIB
