Kazan — In a powerful address at the closed plenary of the 16th BRICS Summit held in Kazan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi championed the need for dialogue and diplomacy over conflict, emphasizing the urgent necessity for a unified front against terrorism. Modi's remarks came as he urged member nations to discard any “double standards” when dealing with such a critical global issue. “We support dialogue and diplomacy, not war,” Modi stated, echoing sentiments of collective responsibility among BRICS nations Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. He highlighted the potential for collaborative solutions, referencing the successful joint efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Just as we were able to overcome a challenge like Covid together, we are certainly able to create new opportunities to ensure a secure, strong, and prosperous future for future generations,” he affirmed. The Prime Minister underscored the necessity for unwavering support from all BRICS members to combat terrorism and its financing. He called for concerted actions to prevent the radicalization of youth and advocated for the long-pending Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the United Nations. “There is no place for double standards on this serious matter. We need to take active steps,” he urged.
The summit gathered an array of world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chinese President Xi Jinping, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Luis Ecker Vieira. During his address, Modi stressed the importance of a people-centric approach for the BRICS alliance, aiming to dispel notions that it operates as a “divisive” entity.
He pointed out the pressing global challenges such as wars, economic uncertainty, climate change, and terrorism, calling for cooperative solutions to address these issues effectively. “The world is talking about the North-South divide and the East-West divide,” Modi remarked, highlighting critical priorities like inflation, food security, energy security, health security, and water security that resonate with nations worldwide. As technological advancements introduce new challenges like cyber threats and disinformation, PM Modi emphasized heightened expectations placed on the BRICS coalition.
He expressed confidence that the organization, as a diverse and inclusive platform, could make significant contributions across these sectors. With the recent expansion of BRICS to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE, Modi indicated India’s readiness to embrace new members as “Partner Countries.” He reaffirmed the need for consensus-based decision-making, urging respect for the perspectives of founding members. “BRICS has been created by the confluence of different viewpoints and ideologies, which serves as a source of inspiration for the world,” Modi noted, calling for the hopes and aspirations of Global South countries to be recognized. He also stressed the importance of advocating for reforms in global institutions like the UN Security Council and the World Trade Organization, reflecting the collective will of member nations. As the summit unfolds in Kazan, PM Modi's call to action resonates with the urgent need for solidarity and proactive measures against the complexities of contemporary global challenges.