Prime Minister Narendra Modi Endorses Expansion of BRICS
In the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Narendra Modi backed the proposal for BRICS membership expansion by consensus and expressed hope that member-states will support India's proposal to make the African Union (AU) a permanent member of the G20 at the summit next month in Delhi, as well as its efforts to address Global South concerns.
In his address to the open BRICS plenary session, Modi made five recommendations to strengthen intra-BRICS cooperation, including the formation of a BRICS space exploration consortium. He was speaking just hours before India's Chandrayaan-3 moon mission successfully landed on the moon.
While seeking timetables for UNSC reforms, Modi also called for reform of multilateral financial institutions, the World Trade Organisation, and urged the BRICS to send a global message of unity rather than polarisation.
On BRICS expansion, the issue that dominated the summit agenda, government sources said India took the lead in forging consensus on membership criteria and selection of new members. India’s efforts are apparently guided by its objective to incorporate strategic partners like Egypt and Saudi Arabia as new members.
According to South Africa, the leaders agreed on a document that "sets out guidelines and principles, processes for considering countries that wish to become members of BRICS" on the second day of the summit.
In a time of great global uncertainty, many developing countries are looking to BRICS for renewed hope. 23 countries have formally approached the grouping for membership. In his speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the process to be accelerated, claiming that more members will make global governance more just and equitable. India, on the other hand, wanted BRICS to first finalise the criteria and guiding principles for extending membership, which the summit did. A formal announcement on expansion guidelines is expected on Aug 24.