External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar opened the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on Thursday to address rising global instability [1].
The gathering occurs as the bloc seeks to coordinate responses to geopolitical volatility and economic uncertainty. With India serving as the chair, the meeting focuses on reforming global governance and securing essential trade routes during a period of significant international friction.
Speaking at the Bharat Mandapam venue, Jaishankar said the world is facing considerable flux due to ongoing conflicts, economic uncertainty, and challenges linked to trade, technology, and climate [1]. He said that the member states must collaborate to mitigate these risks, and that BRICS must play a constructive and stabilising role [2].
The meeting is a two-day event [2] that brings together the foreign ministers of the BRICS member states. Among the attendees is Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who traveled to India this month for the summit [3].
A primary focus of the discussions involves the conflict in West Asia. India flagged concerns over the region's instability, and Jaishankar said that safe, unimpeded maritime flows are vital [4]. The ministers are expected to deliberate on how to ensure the security of these maritime corridors to prevent further economic disruption.
Beyond security, the agenda includes addressing challenges related to food, health, and energy security [4]. The ministers aim to develop a unified approach to these crises while navigating the complexities of global trade and technological competition [1].
This diplomatic effort reflects India's push to position itself as a bridge between the Global South and established global powers. By hosting the ministerial meet in 2026 [2], India is leveraging its chairmanship to advocate for a more inclusive international order and the reform of existing global institutions [4].
“BRICS must play a constructive and stabilising role.”
The meeting signals India's intent to use its BRICS chairmanship to lead on issues of global stability and maritime security. By highlighting the vulnerability of trade routes and the need for governance reform, India is asserting its role as a strategic mediator capable of aligning the interests of diverse economies—including Russia and China—against a backdrop of Western-led geopolitical tensions.
