Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 14 May outlined India's priorities for its BRICS Chairmanship, pledging to strengthen multilateralism, promote sustainable development, enhance economic resilience, and build a more inclusive world order. His remarks came as foreign ministers and heads of delegation from BRICS member countries called on him on the opening day of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi.

India's Vision for BRICS This Year

'BRICS has emerged as an important platform for advancing cooperation among emerging economies and giving voice to the aspirations of the Global South,' Modi said in a post on X. He added that under India's chairmanship, member nations would collectively work toward a reformed, more representative global architecture.

The two-day ministerial gathering is being chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and includes participation from foreign ministers and senior representatives of both BRICS member countries and partner nations. It is one of the most substantive diplomatic engagements of India's BRICS presidency so far.

Modi-Lavrov Bilateral: Ukraine and West Asia on the Table

On the sidelines, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a separate meeting with Prime Minister Modi, during which both sides discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest — including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and developments in West Asia.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Modi reiterated India's consistent position that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path forward in active conflict zones. Lavrov, in turn, briefed the Prime Minister on progress in bilateral cooperation since the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit held in December 2025.

'Pleased to receive Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Thanked him for an update on the progress on various facets of our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. We also exchanged views on various regional and global issues, including situation in Ukraine and West Asia. Reiterated our consistent support for efforts aimed at peaceful resolution of conflicts,' Modi wrote on X after the meeting.

The Global South Dimension

India's BRICS chairmanship carries added weight this year given the bloc's expanded membership and growing calls from developing nations for a rebalanced global order. New Delhi has consistently positioned itself as a bridge between the Global South and Western-led multilateral institutions — a stance that is reflected in Modi's framing of BRICS as a platform for 'giving voice to the aspirations of the Global South.'

Notably, this meeting comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions, with the Ukraine war entering its fourth year and West Asia remaining volatile. India's ability to host Lavrov and simultaneously maintain its Western partnerships underscores the tightrope diplomacy that defines its foreign policy posture.

What Comes Next

The Foreign Ministers' Meeting is expected to set the agenda for the BRICS Leaders' Summit later this year, where key outcomes on multilateral reform, trade in local currencies, and development financing are anticipated. Jaishankar's chairmanship of the two-day session will likely shape the joint communiqué that member states adopt at the close of the meeting.