Amid much chatter, the&nbsp;BRICS Summit, comprising top leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is scheduled to begin next week and the entire globe has its eyes on the developments that take place on the platform. Responsible for nearly 40 per cent and 26 per cent of the global population and economy respectively, the forum members will gather from August 22-24 in the city of Johannesburg.&nbsp;

<h2>Here are some key facts about the summit:</h2>

<h3>When and where is the summit?</h3>

As mentioned earlier, the 15th edition of the summit is scheduled to be held in the city of Johannesburg in South Africa from&nbsp;August 22 to 24.&nbsp;The summit will be hosted at the Sandton Convention Centre (SCC) in Johannesburg, Gauteng.

After the COVID-19 pandemic broke out,&nbsp;this will be the first in-person BRICS summit, which makes the gathering all the more crucial.&nbsp;

<h3>Who is the president?</h3>

South Africa took over the rotating presidency of the grouping from China on 1 January 2023. Consequently, the African nation announced the theme of the summit as&nbsp;"BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism".

Notably, South Africa&nbsp;participated for the first time in BRICS during the third summit held in Sanya, China in April 2011. Prior to South Africa's participation, the forum was named BRIC, coined by Jim O’Neil of Goldman Sachs in 2001.&nbsp;

<h3>What are the priorities?</h3>

As the president, South Africa has listed&nbsp;a wide array of priorities for the summit, which include:&nbsp;

1) Developing a partnership towards an equitable just transition.&nbsp;

2)&nbsp;Transforming education and skills development for the future.

3) Unlocking opportunities through the African Continental Free Trade Area.&nbsp;

4)&nbsp;Strengthening post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and the attainment of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.&nbsp;

5)&nbsp;Strengthening multilateralism, including working towards real reform of global governance institutions and strengthening the meaningful participation of women in peace processes

<h3>Who will attend?</h3>

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,&nbsp;President Xi Jinping of China,&nbsp;Brazil's President Luiz Lula da Silva and&nbsp;South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are expected to attend the summit.&nbsp;

However, Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the summit in person, according to Ramaphosa. According to reports, the arrest warrant issued by&nbsp;the&nbsp;International Criminal Court against Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine is the reason for Putin's absence. Since South Africa is an ICC signatory, it is compelled to arrest Putin if he lands on South African soil.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russian-president-putin-to-skip-brics-summit-in-south-africa-617528">Watch |&nbsp;Russian President Putin to skip BRICS Summit in South Africa</a>

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In a statement, South Africa's presidency described the agreement for Putin not to attend as "mutual" and said it had come about following a "number of consultations" on the summit. Notably, Foreign Minister&nbsp;Sergei Lavrov will take Putin's place.&nbsp;

As the host nation, South Africa has also extended the invitation to&nbsp;67 leaders from Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Caribbean, informed&nbsp;South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor.&nbsp;

<h3>Key issues to be discussed</h3>

One of the burning issues in the lead-up to the summit has been the expansion of the grouping. China, looking to utilise the forum as a way to boost its geopolitical might against the US has been the primary force, batting for the expansion.

Russia, which has been isolated due to the war with Ukraine is fully on-board with the expansion, as is South Africa. India remains undecided and non-committal while Brazil remains highly sceptical of any new inclusion.&nbsp;

While adding members remains the priority, the members are first expected to flesh out the admission criteria for the new joiners. Since the grouping was formulated to bring together emerging economies that seemed set to dominate the world economy by 2050, it remains to be seen if the requirements are tweaked to allow new countries, experts said.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/brics-summit-assessing-dynamics-and-prospects-625982">Also read |&nbsp;BRICS summit: Assessing dynamics and prospects</a>

Notably, over 40 countries, including&nbsp;Argentina, Indonesia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia, have expressed interest in joining BRICS.&nbsp;

Apart from new admissions, BRICS leaders will engage with business during the BRICS Business Forum and engage with the New Development Bank, BRICS Business Council and other mechanisms during the summit. South Africa will also continue its outreach to leaders from Africa and the global South and hold a BRICS outreach and BRICS plus dialogue during the summit.&nbsp;

<h3>Controversies leading up to the summit&nbsp;</h3>

Ahead of the summit, South Africa's radical leftist opposition party urged the leaders of the forum from&nbsp;China, India and Brazil to boycott the summit in solidarity with Russia's Vladimir Putin who will not be attending.&nbsp;

"We call on the president of the People's Republic of China, India and Brazil not to come to (the) BRICS summit in solidarity with President Putin," said&nbsp;Julius Malema, leader of&nbsp;South Africa's third-largest party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/brics-summit-india-confirms-in-person-participation-of-pm-modi-622104">Also read |&nbsp;India confirms PM Modi's in-person attendance at BRICS summit in South Africa</a>

There were reports by Western media outlets that Indian PM Modi will also not be attending the summit, leading to speculations that the Johannesburg event was a dud even before it started.&nbsp;

However, New Delhi slammed those reports and said PM Modi was attending the summit after he held a telephonic conversation with Ramaphosa.&nbsp;

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Amid much chatter, the BRICS Summit, comprising top leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is scheduled to begin next week and the entire globe has its eyes on the developments that take place on the platform.

Amid much chatter, the BRICS Summit, comprising top leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is scheduled to begin next week and the entire globe has its eyes on the developments that take place on the platform. Responsible for nearly 40 per cent and 26 per cent of the global population and economy respectively, the forum members will gather from August 22-24 in the city of Johannesburg. Here are some key facts about the summit: When and where is the summit? As mentioned earlier, the 15th edition of the summit is scheduled to be held in the city of Johannesburg in South Africa from August 22 to 24. The summit will be hosted at the Sandton Convention Centre (SCC) in Johannesburg, Gauteng. After the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, this will be the first in-person BRICS summit, which makes the gathering all the more crucial. Who is the president? South Africa took over the rotating presidency of the grouping from China on 1 January 2023. Consequently, the African nation announced the theme of the summit as "BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism". Notably, South Africa participated for the first time in BRICS during the third summit held in Sanya, China in April 2011. Prior to South Africa's participation, the forum was named BRIC, coined by Jim O’Neil of Goldman Sachs in 2001. What are the priorities? As the president, South Africa has listed a wide array of priorities for the summit, which include: 1) Developing a partnership towards an equitable just transition. 2) Transforming education and skills development for the future. 3) Unlocking opportunities through the African Continental Free Trade Area. 4) Strengthening post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and the attainment of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. 5) Strengthening multilateralism, including working towards real reform of global governance institutions and strengthening the meaningful participation of women in peace processes Who will attend? Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Xi Jinping of China, Brazil's President Luiz Lula da Silva and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are expected to attend the summit. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the summit in person, according to Ramaphosa. According to reports, the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine is the reason for Putin's absence. Since South Africa is an ICC signatory, it is compelled to arrest Putin if he lands on South African soil. Watch | Russian President Putin to skip BRICS Summit in South Africa × In a statement, South Africa's presidency described the agreement for Putin not to attend as "mutual" and said it had come about following a "number of consultations" on the summit. Notably, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will take Putin's place. As the host nation, South Africa has also extended the invitation to 67 leaders from Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Caribbean, informed South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor. Key issues to be discussed One of the burning issues in the lead-up to the summit has been the expansion of the grouping. China, looking to utilise the forum as a way to boost its geopolitical might against the US has been the primary force, batting for the expansion. Russia, which has been isolated due to the war with Ukraine is fully on-board with the expansion, as is South Africa. India remains undecided and non-committal while Brazil remains highly sceptical of any new inclusion. While adding members remains the priority, the members are first expected to flesh out the admission criteria for the new joiners. Since the grouping was formulated to bring together emerging economies that seemed set to dominate the world economy by 2050, it remains to be seen if the requirements are tweaked to allow new countries, experts said. Also read | BRICS summit: Assessing dynamics and prospects Notably, over 40 countries, including Argentina, Indonesia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia, have expressed interest in joining BRICS. Apart from new admissions, BRICS leaders will engage with business during the BRICS Business Forum and engage with the New Development Bank, BRICS Business Council and other mechanisms during the summit. South Africa will also continue its outreach to leaders from Africa and the global South and hold a BRICS outreach and BRICS plus dialogue during the summit. Controversies leading up to the summit Ahead of the summit, South Africa's radical leftist opposition party urged the leaders of the forum from China, India and Brazil to boycott the summit in solidarity with Russia's Vladimir Putin who will not be attending. "We call on the president of the People's Republic of China, India and Brazil not to come to (the) BRICS summit in solidarity with President Putin," said Julius Malema, leader of South Africa's third-largest party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). Also read | India confirms PM Modi's in-person attendance at BRICS summit in South Africa There were reports by Western media outlets that Indian PM Modi will also not be attending the summit, leading to speculations that the Johannesburg event was a dud even before it started. However, New Delhi slammed those reports and said PM Modi was attending the summit after he held a telephonic conversation with Ramaphosa. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Explained | Key facts about the upcoming BRICS 2023 Summit at Johannesburg

As the BRICS summit in Johannesburg looms on the horizon, Roman Babushkin, the Russian Deputy Chief of Mission in Delhi, has advocated trading in national currencies within&nbsp;the grouping.

Speaking at a recent BRICS meeting hosted by India Foundation, Babushkin stated, "The BRICS members have been taking consistent steps to switch to settlements in national currencies for quite some time now and working out new payment mechanisms."

This move, he suggested, would not only align with the shifting global dynamics but also foster greater financial autonomy within the group.

The meeting was chaired by President of India Foundation (IF) Dr Ram Madhav.

Babushkin took the opportunity to revisit a previous proposal made by Brazilian President Lula de Silva, who floated the idea of a single currency for BRICS.

Babushkin acknowledged the pertinence of this concept in the present context. He also referred to an idea put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin during the previous year's summit which revolved around the creation of an international reserve currency based on a composite currency basket representing the BRICS economies.

However, the official acknowledged the complexities involved in translating these concepts into reality.

"These ideas demonstrate new tendencies; however, it's clear that a lot of aspects require in-depth study," he cautioned.

One of the primary challenges, he pointed out, pertained to the creation of a single currency. Such a move would necessitate the establishment of a regulatory authority, alongside the synchronisation of macroeconomic and monetary policies across the BRICS nations.

Another avenue proposed by Babushkin involved a BRICS payment instrument that leveraged the collective strength of the currency basket. This mechanism would enable seamless mutual settlements among the member countries, liberating them from dependence on the US dollar.

"On the other hand, a BRICS payment instrument based on the currency basket would help to carry out mutual settlements without any reliance on the US dollar," he said.

Shifting the focus to expansion, Babushkin recognised the magnetism that BRICS held for countries that shared similar values and aspirations. He lauded the efforts of the South African presidency, highlighting the global interest in joining the alliance.

"With over one-third of the world's GDP, a total population of around 3 billion people and a strong desire of other states to join its activities, it is safe to say that BRICS has become an integral element of an evolving multipolar paradigm," he affirmed.

Emphasizing Russia's profound commitment to BRICS, Babushkin said, "From the very beginning, BRICS was one of the top priorities for Russian foreign policy."

He elaborated on the alliance's principles, emphasising its role in promoting equitable collaboration based on international law and legitimate national interests.

The official reiterated that BRICS aimed to complement, rather than confront, existing international economic and financial institutions.

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As the BRICS summit in Johannesburg looms on the horizon, Roman Babushkin, the Russian Deputy Chief of Mission in Delhi, has advocated trading in national currencies within the grouping.

As the BRICS summit in Johannesburg looms on the horizon, Roman Babushkin, the Russian Deputy Chief of Mission in Delhi, has advocated trading in national currencies within the grouping. Speaking at a recent BRICS meeting hosted by India Foundation, Babushkin stated, "The BRICS members have been taking consistent steps to switch to settlements in national currencies for quite some time now and working out new payment mechanisms." This move, he suggested, would not only align with the shifting global dynamics but also foster greater financial autonomy within the group. The meeting was chaired by President of India Foundation (IF) Dr Ram Madhav. Babushkin took the opportunity to revisit a previous proposal made by Brazilian President Lula de Silva, who floated the idea of a single currency for BRICS. Babushkin acknowledged the pertinence of this concept in the present context. He also referred to an idea put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin during the previous year's summit which revolved around the creation of an international reserve currency based on a composite currency basket representing the BRICS economies. However, the official acknowledged the complexities involved in translating these concepts into reality. "These ideas demonstrate new tendencies; however, it's clear that a lot of aspects require in-depth study," he cautioned. One of the primary challenges, he pointed out, pertained to the creation of a single currency. Such a move would necessitate the establishment of a regulatory authority, alongside the synchronisation of macroeconomic and monetary policies across the BRICS nations. Another avenue proposed by Babushkin involved a BRICS payment instrument that leveraged the collective strength of the currency basket. This mechanism would enable seamless mutual settlements among the member countries, liberating them from dependence on the US dollar. "On the other hand, a BRICS payment instrument based on the currency basket would help to carry out mutual settlements without any reliance on the US dollar," he said. Shifting the focus to expansion, Babushkin recognised the magnetism that BRICS held for countries that shared similar values and aspirations. He lauded the efforts of the South African presidency, highlighting the global interest in joining the alliance. "With over one-third of the world's GDP, a total population of around 3 billion people and a strong desire of other states to join its activities, it is safe to say that BRICS has become an integral element of an evolving multipolar paradigm," he affirmed. Emphasizing Russia's profound commitment to BRICS, Babushkin said, "From the very beginning, BRICS was one of the top priorities for Russian foreign policy." He elaborated on the alliance's principles, emphasising its role in promoting equitable collaboration based on international law and legitimate national interests. The official reiterated that BRICS aimed to complement, rather than confront, existing international economic and financial institutions. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Ahead of BRICS summit, Russian diplomat Babushkin advocates trading in national currencies, expansion

Non-members of BRICS recently attended the virtual summit which was held on June 24, however, Pakistan was absent from the "High-level Dialogue on Global Development".

In response, Pakistan's Foreign Office said: "We have noted that this year a 'High-level Dialogue on Global Development' was held as a BRICS side event in which a number of developing/emerging economies were invited."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-moving-to-establish-an-asia-style-nato-says-north-korea-492198">Also Read:&nbsp;US moving to establish an Asia-style NATO, says North Korea</a>

"China being the host country engaged with Pakistan prior to the BRICS meetings, where decisions are taken after consultations with all BRICS members, including extending an invitation to non-members," it said.

"Regrettably, one member blocked Pakistan’s participation," it said without naming India.

Watch:&nbsp;'Bare-Chested Horseman': G7 leaders mock President Putin

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BRICS is a five-member group consisting of India, Russia, China, Brazil and South Africa.

Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman Asim Iftikhar added that it hoped in future engagement of the organisation it would be included "in view the overall interests of the developing world and in a manner that is devoid of narrow geopolitical considerations".

Pakistan said it is the "current chair" of the G77+China and "part of a group of friends of the Global Development Initiative (GDI)."

Pakistan said relations with China remain "rock solid" and that the two countries are committed to "all-round cooperation to higher levels".

(With inputs from Agencies)

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Non-members of BRICS recently attended the virtual summit which was held on June 24, however, Pakistan was absent from the "High-level Dialogue on Global Development".

Non-members of BRICS recently attended the virtual summit which was held on June 24, however, Pakistan was absent from the "High-level Dialogue on Global Development". In response, Pakistan's Foreign Office said: "We have noted that this year a 'High-level Dialogue on Global Development' was held as a BRICS side event in which a number of developing/emerging economies were invited." Also Read: US moving to establish an Asia-style NATO, says North Korea "China being the host country engaged with Pakistan prior to the BRICS meetings, where decisions are taken after consultations with all BRICS members, including extending an invitation to non-members," it said. "Regrettably, one member blocked Pakistan’s participation," it said without naming India. Watch: 'Bare-Chested Horseman': G7 leaders mock President Putin BRICS is a five-member group consisting of India, Russia, China, Brazil and South Africa. Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman Asim Iftikhar added that it hoped in future engagement of the organisation it would be included "in view the overall interests of the developing world and in a manner that is devoid of narrow geopolitical considerations". Pakistan said it is the "current chair" of the G77+China and "part of a group of friends of the Global Development Initiative (GDI)." Pakistan said relations with China remain "rock solid" and that the two countries are committed to "all-round cooperation to higher levels". (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION NEWS LIVE HERE ×

BRICS non-member meeting: Pak blames 'one member' for blocking participation

Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) signed an agreement for cooperation in remote sensing satellite data sharing, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The pact enables building a virtual constellation of specified remote sensing satellites of BRICS space agencies and their respective ground stations will receive the data, ISRO said.

"This will contribute in strengthening multilateral cooperation among BRICS space agencies in meeting the challenges faced by mankind, such as global climate change, major disasters and environmental protection," the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency said in a statement.

The agreement was signed under India's BRICS Chairship, it was stated. Secretary (Consular, Passport, Visa &amp; Overseas Indian Affairs) &amp; India's BRICS Sherpa, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Sanjay Bhattacharyya, was present.

"#BRICS reached major landmark today with signing of Agr on BRICS Satellite Constellation by Heads of Space Agencies It will promote cooperation &amp; use space data &amp; applications for development &amp; social objectives outlined in SDGs, providing benefit to citizens #BRICSIndia2021", Bhattacharyya tweeted.

Chairman of ISRO and Secretary in Department of Space, K Sivan, Administrator of China National Space Administration, Zhang Kejian, Chief Executive Officer of South African National Space Agency, Valanathan Munsami, President of Brazilian Space Agency, Carlos Augusto Teixeira de Moura, and Director General of Russia's State Space Corporation Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, signed the agreement.

Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) signed an agreement for cooperation in remote sensing satellite data sharing, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) signed an agreement for cooperation in remote sensing satellite data sharing, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The pact enables building a virtual constellation of specified remote sensing satellites of BRICS space agencies and their respective ground stations will receive the data, ISRO said. "This will contribute in strengthening multilateral cooperation among BRICS space agencies in meeting the challenges faced by mankind, such as global climate change, major disasters and environmental protection," the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency said in a statement. The agreement was signed under India's BRICS Chairship, it was stated. Secretary (Consular, Passport, Visa & Overseas Indian Affairs) & India's BRICS Sherpa, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Sanjay Bhattacharyya, was present. "#BRICS reached major landmark today with signing of Agr on BRICS Satellite Constellation by Heads of Space Agencies It will promote cooperation & use space data & applications for development & social objectives outlined in SDGs, providing benefit to citizens #BRICSIndia2021", Bhattacharyya tweeted. Chairman of ISRO and Secretary in Department of Space, K Sivan, Administrator of China National Space Administration, Zhang Kejian, Chief Executive Officer of South African National Space Agency, Valanathan Munsami, President of Brazilian Space Agency, Carlos Augusto Teixeira de Moura, and Director General of Russia's State Space Corporation Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, signed the agreement.

BRICS signs deal on cooperation in remote sensing satellite data sharing

BRIC&nbsp;was formed as a formal grouping in Saint Petersburg in September 2006, with the 1st official summit being held in June 2009 at Yekaterinburg in Russia. BRIC became BRICS only in 2010, with the entry of South Africa, in addition to already existing members - Brazil, Russia, India and China.&nbsp;

All BRICS nations are members of the G20 group. BRICS make up almost 42 per cent of the world’s population, 23 per cent of the global GDP, about 17 per cent of the world trade, almost 50 per cent of world economic growth and 26.6 of the world area.

In a breakthrough at the 6th BRICS Summit in Fortaleza in Brazil 2014, India got the presidency of the New Development Bank (NDB)— the name that Narendra Modi had endorsed. It was launched with an initial capital of $50 billion after the leaders signed the "Fortaleza Declaration". While China walked away with the bank’s headquarters, to be located in Shanghai, Modi got Beijing to agree on equal shareholding rights for all members.&nbsp;

NDB's Articles of Agreement specify that all members of the United Nations could be members of the bank, however, the share of the BRICS nations can never be less than 55 per cent&nbsp;of the voting power. From an Indian perspective, BRICS has emerged as the voice of developing countries on diverse issues like WTO, climate change, inclusive development and mutual cooperation in areas including trade, finance, health, agriculture, energy, space, culture, education, technology and IT.

Also, India has to maintain the balancing act between Russia-China on the one side and the US on the other. While India's stature in global affairs in the last five years under its dynamic Prime Minister Narendra Modi has seen an unprecedented rise, the current crop of BRICS leaders too are opinionated personalities — from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russian President Vladimir Putin to Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro. Hence the shrewd deftness with which South Block, in the last five years under Modi, has taken the lead in galvanising BRICS to take a strong stand against terrorism, putting aside conflicting domestic agendas, is commendable.

Last year at the 10th BRICS Summit, the joint working group on counter-terrorism decided to constitute sub-working groups in five areas: terrorist financing; use of Internet for terrorist purposes; countering radicalisation; the issue of foreign terrorist fighters; and capacity-building.

During meetings of National Security Advisers of BRICS, India’s NSA Ajit Doval put forward a proposal to host a BRICS workshop on digital forensics in India. Brazil also made terrorism one of the priorities for its presidency. It held the first BRICS seminar on Strategies for Countering Terrorism. The focus on countering global terrorism will be even more pronounced this year at the 11th BRICS Summit in the wake of recent terrorist attacks on Israel on 12th and 13th November 2019, with Israel being bombarded by over 250 rockets and missiles by the radical Islamic Jihad and Palestinian militants.

That BRICS put counter-terrorism on top of the agenda has been a huge diplomatic victory for Narendra Modi and India as was evident even in the BRICS Summit in Xiamen in September 2017, with China as the chair, despite the strained ties at that point,due to the standoff in Doklam.

Again at the 10th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR) which is a programme of partnership among BRICS nations that sought to focus on maximising the opportunities arising from the Fourth Industrial Revolution/New Industrial Revolution, showcased how India under Modi has taken the lead in making intra BRICS trade, commerce, investments and people to people connect, the cornerstone of its global messaging.

Coming back to the 11th BRICS Summit in Brasilia in Brazil, it has been an excellent opportunity for India to lay the foundation for hosting the 2021 Summit, scheduled in India after the last BRICS Summit that took place in Goa in 2016. India will also be hosting the G20 Summit in 2022, and the current summit is an opportunity to harmonise the two agendas from New India's perspective. PM Modi also expressed satisfaction that MOU between trade promotion agencies of BRICS will help to achieve the target of USD 500 billion intra-BRICS trade target going forward, among other things. He also mentioned about India's programme of Fit India and proposed for a BRICS Youth Summit to promote Start-Ups and Hackathons.&nbsp;

This year in 2019, "BRICS-- Economic Growth for an Innovative Future" was the theme. In the Summit, apart from Brazil's decision to allow visa free entry to Indians and agreement on bilateral cooperation in areas like bio fuels, post harvest technologies and animal husbandry, clearly, Xi Jinping's invite to PM Modi to China for the 3rd informal summit between the two nations in 2020, hogged headlines.

This is significant as it comes close on the heels of the 2nd informal Summit at Mamallapuram in Chennai last month between the two world leaders. The leaders further reviewed the ongoing preparations for the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and China in 2020. The leaders also reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and security in border areas and exchanged views on many issues including RCEP, WTO and BRICS.

Besides China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Brasilia garnered attention. It was the 4th meeting of the two leaders in 2019, after Modi’s visit to Vladivostok in September 2019, underpinning how Russia is one of the pivots of Modi's foreign policy outreach. The two leaders noted that the USD 25 billion bilateral trade target by 2025 has already been achieved. They further decided to hold the 1st bilateral regional forum between Russian Provinces and the Indian States in 2020, to do away with the trade barriers at the regional level. Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted the potential of the Arctic region in natural gas and invited India to invest in the region.

The leaders also reviewed the progress made in the Infrastructure sector, especially railways including raising the speed of the Nagpur-Secunderabad sector railway line. The leaders further noted cooperation between India and Russia in the Defence sector and Civil Nuclear Energy. Prime Minister Modi accepted the Russian President’s invitation to participate in Russia’s Victory Day celebrations in 2020.

In the final analysis, BRICS 2019 focussed on strengthening cooperation in the fields of science, technology, innovation and the digital economy. The annual summit also aimed to advance cooperation in the fight against transnational crime, especially organized crime, money laundering and drug trafficking.

Euro-Atlantic powers realize that India’s close relationship with the US and commitment to a liberal global order is what prevents BRICS from becoming a divisive, illiberal anti-Western coalition, led by Russian muscle power and Chinese money power. For instance, were Modi to boycott the Xiamen summit in 2017, amidst the Doklam standoff then, it would have been the death knell of BRICS, reducing this grouping to an incoherent bunch of expansionist powers like Russia and China on the one hand and tottering economies like Brazil and South Africa on the other. Brazil and South Africa, which in the last few years have wandered aimlessly from one domestic economic crisis to another have increasingly started looking at South Block to enhance bilateral cooperation to prevent further marginalisation.

BRICS, which in many ways is redefining multilateralism and multiculturalism, has emerged as a template for cooperation between emerging powers and a useful instrument for India to fight the agenda-setting monopoly of Atlantic powers, in its quest for a greater role in global governance. Above all, if BRICS has furthered the cause of a multipolar world, the credit for this unarguably goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy outreach that is both inclusive and global in its approach, but with "India first", being the guiding diktat.&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-brics-modi-s-foreign-policy-pivot-2801796">original article</a>) 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

BRIC was formed as a formal grouping in Saint Petersburg in September 2006, with the 1st official summit being held in June 2009 at Yekaterinburg in Russia. BRIC became BRICS only in 2010, with the entry of South Africa, in addition to already existing members - Brazil, Russia, India and China.

BRIC was formed as a formal grouping in Saint Petersburg in September 2006, with the 1st official summit being held in June 2009 at Yekaterinburg in Russia. BRIC became BRICS only in 2010, with the entry of South Africa, in addition to already existing members - Brazil, Russia, India and China. All BRICS nations are members of the G20 group. BRICS make up almost 42 per cent of the world’s population, 23 per cent of the global GDP, about 17 per cent of the world trade, almost 50 per cent of world economic growth and 26.6 of the world area. In a breakthrough at the 6th BRICS Summit in Fortaleza in Brazil 2014, India got the presidency of the New Development Bank (NDB)— the name that Narendra Modi had endorsed. It was launched with an initial capital of $50 billion after the leaders signed the "Fortaleza Declaration". While China walked away with the bank’s headquarters, to be located in Shanghai, Modi got Beijing to agree on equal shareholding rights for all members. NDB's Articles of Agreement specify that all members of the United Nations could be members of the bank, however, the share of the BRICS nations can never be less than 55 per cent of the voting power. From an Indian perspective, BRICS has emerged as the voice of developing countries on diverse issues like WTO, climate change, inclusive development and mutual cooperation in areas including trade, finance, health, agriculture, energy, space, culture, education, technology and IT. Also, India has to maintain the balancing act between Russia-China on the one side and the US on the other. While India's stature in global affairs in the last five years under its dynamic Prime Minister Narendra Modi has seen an unprecedented rise, the current crop of BRICS leaders too are opinionated personalities — from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russian President Vladimir Putin to Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro. Hence the shrewd deftness with which South Block, in the last five years under Modi, has taken the lead in galvanising BRICS to take a strong stand against terrorism, putting aside conflicting domestic agendas, is commendable. Last year at the 10th BRICS Summit, the joint working group on counter-terrorism decided to constitute sub-working groups in five areas: terrorist financing; use of Internet for terrorist purposes; countering radicalisation; the issue of foreign terrorist fighters; and capacity-building. During meetings of National Security Advisers of BRICS, India’s NSA Ajit Doval put forward a proposal to host a BRICS workshop on digital forensics in India. Brazil also made terrorism one of the priorities for its presidency. It held the first BRICS seminar on Strategies for Countering Terrorism. The focus on countering global terrorism will be even more pronounced this year at the 11th BRICS Summit in the wake of recent terrorist attacks on Israel on 12th and 13th November 2019, with Israel being bombarded by over 250 rockets and missiles by the radical Islamic Jihad and Palestinian militants. That BRICS put counter-terrorism on top of the agenda has been a huge diplomatic victory for Narendra Modi and India as was evident even in the BRICS Summit in Xiamen in September 2017, with China as the chair, despite the strained ties at that point,due to the standoff in Doklam. Again at the 10th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR) which is a programme of partnership among BRICS nations that sought to focus on maximising the opportunities arising from the Fourth Industrial Revolution/New Industrial Revolution, showcased how India under Modi has taken the lead in making intra BRICS trade, commerce, investments and people to people connect, the cornerstone of its global messaging. Coming back to the 11th BRICS Summit in Brasilia in Brazil, it has been an excellent opportunity for India to lay the foundation for hosting the 2021 Summit, scheduled in India after the last BRICS Summit that took place in Goa in 2016. India will also be hosting the G20 Summit in 2022, and the current summit is an opportunity to harmonise the two agendas from New India's perspective. PM Modi also expressed satisfaction that MOU between trade promotion agencies of BRICS will help to achieve the target of USD 500 billion intra-BRICS trade target going forward, among other things. He also mentioned about India's programme of Fit India and proposed for a BRICS Youth Summit to promote Start-Ups and Hackathons. This year in 2019, "BRICS-- Economic Growth for an Innovative Future" was the theme. In the Summit, apart from Brazil's decision to allow visa free entry to Indians and agreement on bilateral cooperation in areas like bio fuels, post harvest technologies and animal husbandry, clearly, Xi Jinping's invite to PM Modi to China for the 3rd informal summit between the two nations in 2020, hogged headlines. This is significant as it comes close on the heels of the 2nd informal Summit at Mamallapuram in Chennai last month between the two world leaders. The leaders further reviewed the ongoing preparations for the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and China in 2020. The leaders also reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and security in border areas and exchanged views on many issues including RCEP, WTO and BRICS. Besides China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Brasilia garnered attention. It was the 4th meeting of the two leaders in 2019, after Modi’s visit to Vladivostok in September 2019, underpinning how Russia is one of the pivots of Modi's foreign policy outreach. The two leaders noted that the USD 25 billion bilateral trade target by 2025 has already been achieved. They further decided to hold the 1st bilateral regional forum between Russian Provinces and the Indian States in 2020, to do away with the trade barriers at the regional level. Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted the potential of the Arctic region in natural gas and invited India to invest in the region. The leaders also reviewed the progress made in the Infrastructure sector, especially railways including raising the speed of the Nagpur-Secunderabad sector railway line. The leaders further noted cooperation between India and Russia in the Defence sector and Civil Nuclear Energy. Prime Minister Modi accepted the Russian President’s invitation to participate in Russia’s Victory Day celebrations in 2020. In the final analysis, BRICS 2019 focussed on strengthening cooperation in the fields of science, technology, innovation and the digital economy. The annual summit also aimed to advance cooperation in the fight against transnational crime, especially organized crime, money laundering and drug trafficking. Euro-Atlantic powers realize that India’s close relationship with the US and commitment to a liberal global order is what prevents BRICS from becoming a divisive, illiberal anti-Western coalition, led by Russian muscle power and Chinese money power. For instance, were Modi to boycott the Xiamen summit in 2017, amidst the Doklam standoff then, it would have been the death knell of BRICS, reducing this grouping to an incoherent bunch of expansionist powers like Russia and China on the one hand and tottering economies like Brazil and South Africa on the other. Brazil and South Africa, which in the last few years have wandered aimlessly from one domestic economic crisis to another have increasingly started looking at South Block to enhance bilateral cooperation to prevent further marginalisation. BRICS, which in many ways is redefining multilateralism and multiculturalism, has emerged as a template for cooperation between emerging powers and a useful instrument for India to fight the agenda-setting monopoly of Atlantic powers, in its quest for a greater role in global governance. Above all, if BRICS has furthered the cause of a multipolar world, the credit for this unarguably goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy outreach that is both inclusive and global in its approach, but with "India first", being the guiding diktat. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

BRICS: PM Narendra Modi’s foreign policy pivot

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BRICS: PM Narendra Modi’s foreign policy pivot