Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called for the BRICS bloc to serve as a stabilizing force during a foreign ministers' meeting on Thursday [1].

The remarks underscore India's effort to position itself as a diplomatic bridge between emerging economies and established powers while navigating volatile geopolitical conflicts. As the current chair of the bloc in 2026 [2], India is leveraging the meeting to push for a collective approach to global security.

Speaking at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Jaishankar addressed the impact of current conflicts on international stability [3]. He said the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are critical issues that cannot be ignored because they affect global stability and demand collective action [4].

Jaishankar described the current state of global affairs as experiencing considerable flux in international relations with multiple overlapping challenges [5]. He said the BRICS grouping is expected to play a constructive, stabilising role in this environment [5].

The foreign ministers' meeting is scheduled to last for two days [6]. During the opening of the event, Jaishankar welcomed the visiting foreign ministers and representatives, and said that India looks forward to productive discussions under its chairmanship [7].

The meeting comes at a time when the BRICS nations are seeking to define their influence in a multipolar world. By focusing on stability, Jaishankar is signaling that the bloc should not merely be an economic alternative to Western institutions, but a diplomatic tool for peace [4].

“The BRICS grouping is expected to play a constructive, stabilising role”

India's emphasis on a 'stabilising role' for BRICS reflects its strategic autonomy policy. By urging the bloc to address conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, New Delhi is attempting to prevent BRICS from becoming a purely anti-Western coalition, instead framing it as a necessary mediator for global order in an increasingly fragmented geopolitical landscape.