What happened?
On September 8, 2025, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, representing Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the virtual BRICS Leaders’ Summit, highlighted the growing global instability arising from conflicts, economic volatility, climate crises, and the slowing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. He said the multilateral system “appears to be failing the world” amid the lingering effects of Covid-19, major conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, trade and investment volatility, and extreme climate events. Calling for greater resilience in the global economy, Jaishankar urged the creation of shorter, more reliable and more diversified supply chains to withstand multiple disruptions. He stressed that democratizing manufacturing and production across geographies is crucial to this effort.
Why it matters to India
Jaishankar’s remarks framed India’s broader concerns as a voice for the Global South, warning that ongoing conflicts have worsened food, energy and fertilizer security, and that shipping disruptions threaten both trade and livelihoods. He also pushed for urgent reforms in global governance institutions, including the UN Security Council, and called for renewed focus on climate action and climate justice. Praising initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the Global Bio-fuels Alliance, Jaishankar concluded by thanking Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for convening the summit and providing India an opportunity to share its perspectives.