Shashi Tharoor writes: ‘Lula defeated the candidate backed by the US’ — Will India benefit from BRICS and UNSC reforms?

Source: नवभारत टाइम्स | Original Published At: 2026-10-26 06:26:29 UTC

Key Points

• Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's fourth presidential election win in Brazil strengthens Brazil's commitment to a multipolar world and gives BRICS and the Global South a stronger voice.
• Tharoor noted that Lula defeated right-wing leader Flavio Bolsonaro, who had support from US President Donald Trump, and said Lula's independent foreign policy prioritizes national sovereignty.
• Defense analyst J.S. Sodhi said Lula's return could deepen India-Brazil cooperation within BRICS, including support for UN Security Council reform and greater roles for developing economies.
• Sodhi said Lula has supported bilateral trade in national currencies, and a rupee-real payment mechanism could offer an alternative to dollar-based payments subject to exchange-rate, payment-system and trade-balance constraints.
• The article says India and Brazil are seeking broader economic cooperation, with a bilateral trade target of $30 billion by 2030.