Representing Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the virtual BRICS Leaders’ Meeting, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar delivered a pointed and far-reaching address on Monday, calling on BRICS nations to take thelead in shaping a more equitable, resilient and reformed global order.
Opening his remarks by conveying the PM’s greetings, Jaishankar stated that the current state of global affairs is a cause for serious concern, citing cascading crises over the past few years — from the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, to climate disasters, supply chain disruptions, and a slowdown in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda.
“The multilateral system appears to be failing the world,” Jaishankar warned. “That so many serious stresses are being left unaddressed is understandably having consequences for the global order itself.”
Emphasising the human and economic toll of ongoing conflicts, Jaishankar urged BRICS leaders to take a firm position on resolving disputes diplomatically, noting the direct implications for development, food, energy, and fertilizer security, especially in the Global South.