BRICS Summit in New Delhi Focuses on Technology and Resilience Amid Geopolitical Tensions

The BRICS Summit concluded in New Delhi on Sunday with a focus on technological cooperation, global resilience, and the management of critical minerals. Chinese President Xi Jinping promised to create an open source artificial intelligence community for BRICS countries to support the joint development of large language models. He also proposed a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform and partnerships for Special Economic Zones. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned that the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals could hinder shared progress and called for inclusivity in technology adoption. Modi highlighted four pillars of India's presidency: resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability. As part of these efforts, the member states agreed to a BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for infectious diseases and established guidelines for disaster management data integration.

On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Modi held bilateral talks with several leaders, including Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. During his meeting with Xi, Modi stated that peace and stability along the India China border are essential for the broader relationship. President Putin advocated for a reform of global governance and greater integration within the bloc. The summit also resulted in the unanimous approval of a 45 page New Delhi Declaration, which included a condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Domestic reactions in India varied based on political perspectives. Center right sources reported on the diplomatic achievements and the specific initiatives launched under India's presidency. Left leaning sources framed the event by emphasizing the tension between India and China, noting that Modi's warnings about critical minerals were aimed at Chinese export controls. Some opposition figures criticized the government, with one leader questioning the red carpet treatment of China given border disputes and another arguing that the prime minister failed to speak forcefully on global human rights and conflicts in West Asia. Additionally, some political critics questioned the all vegetarian menu at the gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Modi, arguing it ignored India's diverse culinary culture.