"At the BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the application of double standards against the Global South"
At the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, **Prime Minister Narendra Modi** emphasised the need for a fair and equitable global order, addressing the issue of double standards faced by the Global South in development, resources, and security matters.
Modi highlighted that nations from the Global South, despite significant contributions to the global economy, are often denied adequate representation and a meaningful seat at the decision-making tables of major international institutions such as the UN Security Council, IMF, World Bank, and WTO.
The Prime Minister pointed out that this double standard affects areas such as climate finance, sustainable development, and access to technology, where the Global South has received mostly token gestures instead of substantial support and cooperation. He called for urgent reforms of global institutions to make them more reflective of 21st-century realities, pushing for a multipolar and inclusive world order that respects the voice and interests of developing countries.
The BRICS Summit itself underscored its commitment to strengthening cooperation among Global South countries, promoting inclusive and sustainable governance, and working towards a fairer and more representative international order. The leaders adopted a Joint Declaration reaffirming principles like sovereign equality, solidarity, and inclusion, with a focus on cooperation across politics, security, economy, finance, climate change, health, and technology sectors.
PM Narendra Modi's attendance at the BRICS Summit was part of his ongoing five-nation tour, which included visits to Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Argentina before Brazil. During the summit, Modi participated in the traditional family photo session, marking a moment of unity and collaboration among BRICS member countries.
However, the summit was attended by only seven out of the usual eight leaders, as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend. Despite their absence, the BRICS Summit reaffirmed its commitment to promoting global cooperation and addressing the challenges faced by the Global South.
The expansion of BRICS in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE, and the subsequent addition of Indonesia in 2025, reflects the organisation's ability to adapt to changing times and its commitment to representing a broader cross-section of the Global South.
In summary, the double standards faced by the Global South include underrepresentation in global governance institutions, unequal access to development resources, climate finance, and modern technologies, and inconsistent and often tokenistic approaches to security and sustainable development issues. Calls by BRICS leaders, especially Modi, aim to address these disparities by pushing for reforms, multilateralism, and more equitable global cooperation. This discourse at the BRICS Summit reflects a broader demand from the Global South for recognition, voice, and agency in shaping international policies that affect their development and security.
[1] Source: BRICS Summit Official Statement [2] Source: BRICS Joint Declaration [3] Source: PM Narendra Modi's Speech at the BRICS Summit
- In his speech at the BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the importance of addressing the double standards faced by countries from the Global South in the realm of technology, such as the equitable distribution of modern technologies for sustainable development.
- Amidst general news of global politics and policy-and-legislation, the issue of India's call for reform in international institutions, particularly those related to finance like the IMF and World Bank, has gained significant attention due to its implications for economic development in the Global South.
- The Joint Declaration adopted at the BRICS Summit, signed by leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasized cooperation in the cricket industry, recognizing the potential for shared advancements in technology and finance to support the growth and development of Global South nations.
