BRICS at a Turning Point: India’s Leadership and the Road Ahead

Source: Hindustan Times | Original Published At: 2026-09-13 06:12:49 UTC

Key Points

• At the May BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, ministers did not agree on a conventional joint statement, and India issued a Chair’s Statement and Outcome Document instead.
• The article argues that India’s BRICS presidency should prioritize economic effectiveness through the Economic Partnership Strategy 2030, covering supply chains, customs cooperation, logistics, standards, digital agriculture and MSME cooperation.
• It discusses BRICS efforts on cross-border payments and local-currency financing, including the New Development Bank’s target of 30% financing in local currencies.
• The piece highlights critical minerals as a potential area for BRICS cooperation, proposing collaboration on geological data, exploration, processing, reserves and long-term supply contracts.
• It also calls for BRICS maritime and logistics cooperation focused on port access, supply chain visibility, resilience of waterways and commercial supply chains, rather than forming a military alliance.
• The article concludes that BRICS should remain a pragmatic platform for trade, finance, supply-chain and development options, with success measured by practical gains for businesses and developing economies.