India will ‘define BRICS in a new form’ next year – Modi

Issues facing the Global South will get priority under India’s chairmanship of the grouping

India intends to define BRICS “in a new form” next year and prioritize the main issues facing the Global South, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday.

Speaking on the second day of the annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, the Indian leader said his country, which will assume the chairmanship of the group in 2026, will follow a people-centric approach. “Under India’s BRICS presidency, we will work to define BRICS in a new form,” Modi said.

“BRICS will mean Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability. Just as, during our G-20 chairmanship, we gave priority to the issues of the Global South in the agenda, similarly during our chairmanship of BRICS, we will take this forum forward in the spirit of people-centricity and humanity first.” 

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In his speech at the Rio’s summit’s plenary session, Modi stressed on the need for BRICS members to assist developing countries. “The Global South has many hopes from us,” he said. “To fulfil them, we must follow the principle of ‘Lead by Example’. India is fully committed to working shoulder-to-shoulder with all our partners to achieve our common goals.”

BRICS was established in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. In 2024, the bloc extended full membership to Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates. Indonesia became its latest full member this year. Over 30 more nations have applied to join the group. 

Addressed the BRICS Summit Plenary session on ‘Strengthening Multilateralism, Economic-Financial Affairs, and Artificial Intelligence.’ Focused on how to make the BRICS platform even more effective in this increasingly multipolar world. Also gave a few suggestions which are… pic.twitter.com/zRqyEa9q2v

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 7, 2025

Over the last several years, India along with the other BRICS countries has been voicing the need to contribute to a multipolar world. “Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world order,” Modi said before leaving India for the Rio summit. 

The grouping has increasingly come under fire from US President Donald Trump, who on Monday threatened to impose an additional 10% tariff on any country which “aligns itself” with BRICS, accusing the bloc of adopting “anti-American policies.”

In a joint declaration at the close of the Rio summit, BRICS members criticized unilateral tariff actions and condemned “indiscriminate” trade measures, although the statement did not directly mention the US.