PM Modi Embarks on Five-Nation Tour, to Attend BRICS Summit and Boost Global South Ties

The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a series of five country diplomatic visits on his visit to Ghana where he received a rousing welcome by the president John Mahama. The tour is meant to strengthen Indian relations with the Global South and it will also take the president to Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia. The BRICS meeting in Brazil will be attended by PM Modi and he is likely to have several bilateral meetings. He highlighted that BRICS is the way forward to maintain (s) a balanced, multipolar world. The tour also involves Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago conferring the highest state honours on PM Modi.

Context

• The tour of five countries organized by PM Modi focuses on enhancing collaboration with the Global South as well as reinforcing Indian participation in the BRICS. 

• In Ghana and Trinidad, he will get the highest honours and speak in several parliaments as well as advance vaccine and economic diplomacy.

• BRICS 2025 Summit: It will be organized in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 6-7, 2025.

Key Points

Reason of the Visit

• Intensify collaboration in the Global South.

• Participate in the BRICS meeting in Brazil and facilitate a multipolar world order.

• Initiate the search of bilateral relations with countries in Africa, South America, and the Caribbean.

Key Destinations

• Ghana: Bilateral meetings with President Mahama Visiting fellow of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance Visit Parliament and discuss health and vaccination partnership.

• Trinidad and Tobago: Honored by PM Kamla Persad Bissessar; to be awarded with Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; strengthening the ancestral heritage and culture.

• Brazil: BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, state visit in Brasilia, moments to continue advancing the agenda of the Global South.

• Argentina: Bilateral activity in order to expand strategic relations.

• Namibia: President Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah receives Namibia; Speaks to Joint Session of Parliament; increases cooperation in energy and development.

Themes and Areas of Focus

• South-South cooperation

• Partnership in vaccine production (case of Ghana)

• Capacity building/Investment

• Focus on peaceful, fair and equal international order

Diplomatic Significance

• State honours recall the increased global influence of India.

• The visit is the message of India in redesigning world governance.

• Enhances the credibility of India as one of the emerging economies.

About BRICS

What is BRICS?

• BRICS is a multilateral bloc comprising of five emerging major economies:

• Brazil, Russian, India, China and South Africa.

Formation and Evolution

• Formed: 2006 (originally the BRIC; with the inclusion of South Africa in 2010)

• Objective: Aim is to revise the global financial and political institutions because of the emergence of the emergent economies.

• New members added: 2010 including South Africa

  • During the Johannesburg Summit 2023, the BRICS embarked upon welcoming six new countries as its members:

  • The United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Key Goals:

• Disseminate peace, security and development

• Encourage economic growth and multilateral trade

• Promote the multipolar world order as the offset of western dominance

Important BRICS Mechanisms and Institutions

1. New Development Bank (NDB)

• Was founded in 2014 (Shanghai headquarters)

• Investments into sustainability and infrastructural development in BRICS and other emerging markets.

• India itself has been one of the biggest beneficiaries and contributors to it.

2. Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA)

• Gives financial assistance in terms of currency swaps in times of balance of payment crisis.

• Increases the economic stability of the members.

3. BRICS Summits

• Annual meetings of coordination of policies on:

  • Global governance

  • Climate change

  • Development and health

  • Trade and investment

The Role of India in BRICS

• Strategic Voice of the Global South

  • India has always used BRICS to push its agenda in relation to the developing countries.

  • Emphasis on global inclusive and multilateralism reformed.

• Advocate Reforms in UN

  • The lobbies of permanent membership of the UNSC and a greater Global South representation.

• Economic Cooperation

  • India is encouraging collaboration in the digital economy, green technology and energy security.

  • Organizes BRICS Start Up Forums, Business Council and other ministerial meetings.

• Check against China

  • As long as there is cooperation, India has been using BRICS as the platforms to negotiate with China on a neutral ground, particularly after border tensions.

• Vaccine and Health Diplomacy

  • India is promoting BRICS Vaccine Research & Development Centre during COVID-19.

  • Enhances health equality and preparedness on the pandemic.

Challenges in BRICS

• Geopolitics (e.g., Indian and China border conflict).

• Dissymmetry of size of the economies (China wins).

• Foreign policies having no cohesion.

• Weaknesses of institutions and gaps in implementation.

Indian Vision for BRICS 

• A number of people who have been democratized by a multilateral system of fairness and equality.

• Technological innovation-based expansion through collaboration in terms of digital infrastructure, fintech, and AI.

• According to its slogan, it advocates climate justice, sustainable development, and energy transitions.

Conclusion

The strategic five-nation tour undertaken by PM Modi assures the Global South that India is committed to the Global South and that it will be taking the leadership role in BRICS. The visit is an important point of India's multipolar foreign policy initiative with high-level interactions, bilateral collaboration, and symbolic awards.