BRICS Summit: A New Era of Global Influence|UPSC Editorial
The 16th BRICS Summit, held in Kazan, Russia, highlighted multilateralism as the tool for achieving just global development and security. India unveiled its vision for an expanded BRICS, marking a big step forward in the evolution of this group. From the very start, BRICS was a dream project of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, formed in 2006. It now includes South Africa, and newer members such as Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. This represents BRICS’ growing influence in global economic cooperation and governance reform. The Kazan Declaration deepened intra-BRICS cooperation by creating innovative financial solutions and a commitment to balanced world development.
16th BRICS Summit, Global South, BRICS group expanded, UN, WTO, World Bank, IMF, Contingency Reserve Arrangement (CRA), New Development Bank (NDB), Line of Actual Control (LAC), voice for the Global South, sustainable development, counter-terrorism, terror financing, Russia- Ukraine conflict, Global Financial Safety Net
Topics for UPSC Mains
Significance of International Groupings and Agreements for India’s Strategic Interests.
Origin of the Article
This editorial is based on “Why this is not just another BRICS in the wall,” published in The Indian Express on 25/10/2024. The article discusses the Kazan Declaration from the 16th BRICS Summit, emphasizing multilateralism for equitable global development and outlining India’s vision for an expanded BRICS.
Relevance for UPSC Aspirants
This would be relevant for UPSC students studying international relations and global economic structures, topics in GS Paper 2. It helps understand the dynamics of BRICS, which aids in understanding the strategic interest of India and its role in global governance and hence is very useful for both Prelims and Mains examinations.
Why in News?
The 16th BRICS Summit and the Kazan Declaration highlight India’s strategic role in the expanded BRICS, crucial for UPSC aspirants. This event highlights a new emphasis on multilateralism, economic cooperation, and reforms in global governance, very much related to UPSC themes on international relations, global institutions, and India’s foreign policy strategies.
Strategic Vision in the Evolving BRICS Landscape
India formed BRICS in 2006 and strategically reshaped its vision on the strategic plane. With the Kazan Declaration as a precursor, it points to a new era where multilateralism and global reform would dominate. India actively participates and emphasizes its strong commitment to leveraging BRICS’ influence in the emerging global architecture.
Genesis, Evolution, and Significance of BRICS
BRICS began in 2006 with Brazil, Russia, India, and China. In 2010, South Africa became a part of the group, and in 2024, it included Egypt, Ethiopia, the UAE, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. This has increased regional influence and cooperation, establishing it as a major power in international affairs.
Evolution
Membership Expansion: South Africa joined the group in 2010, and the additional five members, namely Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE, Iran, and Saudi Arabia in 2024, pushed BRICS beyond its traditional borders to exploit regional influences while pushing its agenda.
Significant Membership Changes: The involvement of major oil-producing countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia increases the influence of BRICS to shape global energy markets, boosting its strategic power.
Institutional Growth: Through BRICS, reforms in world governance have been pushed for through mechanisms such as the CRA (Contingency Reserve Arrangement) and NDB (New Development Bank), which support financial stability and development.
Significance
Economic Growth Metrics: One can observe that there are very significant economic impacts of the BRICS because its overall GDP is higher than that of G7. Intra BRICS cooperation has been major for the growth of each other’s economies, which eventually benefits the populations enormously.
Shaping Geopolitical Landscape: BRICS is considered one of the geopolitical force today because of its proposal towards reforms in global governance systems by taking a concordance approach that cannot go through without active members and consensus among them all.
Women’s Empowerment: That brings BRICS as one of the geopolitical force today on account of its proposal on the reforms in global governance systems by taking a concordance approach that cannot pass by without active members and on that, by all of their mutual consensus.
Affordable Housing and Urban Development: The initiatives under the BRICS include an Urbanization Forum that targets Agenda 2030, Sustainable Development. The agendas will promote affordable housing and resilience in the cities.
Significance and Challenges of BRICS for India
Geopolitically, BRICS offers India an opportunity toward developing geopolitical influence and developmental financing under the guise of advocacy for Global South issues. However, aligning member interests and managing China’s dominance in BRICS will be the biggest challenges.
Significance of BRICS for India
Geopolitical Influence: BRICS allows India to play a balancing act between Russia and China and push for global financial reforms in its multipolar vision.
Developmental Financing: The NDB has funded Indian projects that have helped regional cooperation and infrastructure development.
Voice for Developing Nations: India pursues Global South causes through BRICS, which involves pushing for fair global governance.
Counterterrorism Collaboration: BRICS backs India’s counter-terrorism efforts with a focus on regional security concerns and terror financing.
Strategic Partnerships with New Members: Partnership with Saudi Arabia and UAE helps India in energy and trade cooperation, which suits India’s strategic interests.
Challenges for India in BRICS
Diverse Member Interests: India needs to harmonize the interests of BRICS countries by applying subtle diplomacy because different economies and political systems have their influence on different BRICS countries.
China’s Dominance: China is economically a strong force within BRICS, which causes India some concern. In such a scenario, it requires to formulate its agenda by proper strategizing.
Managing Regional Rivalries: Incorporation of Saudi Arabia and Iran into new BRICS members have become sources of rivalry while in building consensus and in taking decisions.
Global Governance Model: The reasons are presented below as to why the formation of an all-inclusive governance model within global tensions is difficult and needs strategic alignment within BRICS.
Highlights of the India-China Agreement at Kazan
This BRICS summit India-China agreement brings out the importance of regional security and cooperation. It is more focused on patrolling arrangements, troop disengagement, and restoration of pre-2020 conditions along the LAC.
Patrolling Agreement: The agreement on the patrolling arrangements in LAC allows for troop disengagement to pre-May 2020 situations and improves the region’s stability.
Restoration of Rights: Indian troops will regain their patrolling rights in areas like Depsang Plains and Demchok, improving India’s strategic reach in the LAC regions.
Troop Reduction: The agreement foresees a plan to deinduct troops from the LAC; deinduction within ten days is expected, further boosting regional security.
Caution Ahead: Trust-building remains important, and there will be future talks involving special representatives to ensure sustained cooperation and resolve border issues.
Major Highlights of the Kazan Declaration of the 16th BRICS Summit
The Kazan Declaration is a strategic partnership of cooperation for BRICS, mutual respect, the sustainability of development, peace in the world, as well as its impact upon the geopolitical landscape.
Comprehensive Framework: The declaration affirms BRICS’s mutual respect, sovereign equality, and fair international order as the guideline for future cooperation. Declaration.
Strategic Importance: The declaration highlighted focus on sustainable development and peace, which addressed challenging problems of the Global South in enhancing cooperation on multiple matters.
Diplomatic Resolutions of Conflict: BRICS feels that global conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine crisis could be resolved through diplomacy, promoting multilateralism as well as peaceful resolution of conflict.
G20 and Multilateralism: The G20 summit identified the role of G20 in global decision-making, and it called for IMF reform to enhance better representation of emerging economies.
Trade & Dedollarization: The G20 summit identified the role of G20 in global decision-making, and it called for IMF reform to enhance better representation of emerging economies.
BRICS Grain Exchange: A grain exchange is planned to improve efficiency in the market and food security, thus strengthening BRICS’s economic cooperation.
Global Responsibilities: A BRICS collaboration focuses upon health systems and environmental stewardship, emphasizing initiatives such as the R&D Vaccine Centre and conservation efforts.
Conclusion
BRICS represents the beacon for new and developing economies, espousing balanced growth and a new kind of geopolitical equilibrium. There is much it promises as a platform that provides for the voice of newly emergent countries regarding their needs and issues. For India, it presents a future roadmap on strengthening diplomacy, increasing trade volumes, and committing towards fighting terrorism.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs) Mains Q. What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism?(UPSC Mains 2015, GS Paper III)
Q. Analyze the strategic importance of India’s role in BRICS, especially in light of the expansion and its vision for representing the Global South. How does BRICS complement India’s interests in multilateral forums like the UN, WTO, IMF, and World Bank?