BRICS Summit: PM Modi flags growing threat from tech, critical minerals ‘weaponisation’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday warned against the “weaponisation of technology and critical minerals”, saying rising geopolitical tensions are adversely affecting ordinary people across the world and could hinder shared progress and prosperity.

Addressing the BRICS summit in New Delhi, Modi said the grouping must unite to address global challenges and promote inclusive growth, particularly across the Global South.

The prime minister made the remarks in the presence of top leaders of the grouping, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

BRICS adopts New Delhi Declaration as PM Modi pushes Global South reform

“Under India’s presidency, we have focused our efforts on four pillars: resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability. I am pleased that, with your cooperation and support, we have been able to transform our shared vision into a win-win situation,” the prime minister said.

Modi also highlighted the impact of rising geopolitical tensions on common people across the world.

“The world is witnessing increasing tensions and they having a significant negative impact on the lives of ordinary people. Pandemics, climate disasters, and supply chain disruptions have demonstrated that in today’s interconnected world, no crisis remains confined to a single region,” Modi said.

“Therefore, we have placed special emphasis on enhancing resilience within the BRICS group. It is equally essential to identify challenges in a timely manner, remain prepared for them and take immediate action,” he said.

Modi said a consensus had been reached on a BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for the prevention of and response to infectious diseases.

“With this approach, a consensus has been reached on a BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for the prevention of and response to infectious diseases,” he said.

He added that guidelines for an early warning data integration mechanism had also been formulated.

The BRICS logistic supply chain cooperation framework will help make supply chains more reliable and resilient, he said.

Under the innovation pillar, Modi said the BRICS incubator network will connect startups and incubators across the grouping.

The prime minister also said BRICS must work together to address challenges facing the Global South, adding that confidence in the grouping among countries of the Global South has increased.

Modi-Xi talks: India, China seek stronger business ties

The summit also saw diplomatic engagement between Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

Iran and the United Arab Emirates signed up to a joint statement from the BRICS group of nations that called for restraint in the Middle East war on Saturday, in what was seen as a sign of diplomatic progress between the countries divided by the war.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also met the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of the first day of the New Delhi summit, in the countries’ highest-level meeting since the start of the conflict.

The two leaders discussed regional and international issues, de-escalation, stability, and efforts to advance regional peace and development, the Abu Dhabi media office said on X, without referring to any resolution to the discussions.

Delhi BRICS Summit: 15,000 cops, 200 paramilitary companies, traffic curbs

The BRICS summit is a test of the diplomatic clout of a bloc set up in 2009 to challenge a world order dominated by the United States and its Western allies.

It originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia as well as Iran and the UAE.

Summit organisers and diplomats have been focused on bridging the Iran-UAE divide, even as the United States and Iran resume tit-for-tat strikes in the six-month-old war.

(With inputs from agencies)