PM Narendra Modi: PM Modi arrives in Brazil for BRICS summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Brazil on Sunday (Saturday evening local time) to participate in the BRICS summit being held in Rio de Janeiro. This visit marks the fourth leg of his five-nation tour, which began on July 2. Prior to Brazil, the Prime Minister visited Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Argentina — becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Argentina in the last 50 years.

The BRICS summit this year will see significant discussions despite the absence of two key leaders — Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. India is expected to play a proactive role in shaping the summit's agenda, especially regarding its strong stance against terrorism.

India has prioritized the inclusion of a firm condemnation of terrorism in the BRICS declaration. The statement is likely to reference the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that occurred in April, claiming the lives of 26 innocent civilians. In response to the attack, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Key themes on the summit agenda include climate finance, collaboration in artificial intelligence, healthcare reform, and the promotion of national currencies for international trade. India has backed the proposal to reduce the dependence of Global South countries on the US dollar, aiming to strengthen financial sovereignty and regional cooperation.

Additionally, the summit is expected to feature strong criticism of U.S. trade policies, particularly the Trump administration’s imposition of unilateral import tariffs. Several BRICS nations have voiced concerns that these measures are hindering global trade and violating World Trade Organization (WTO) norms. Prime Minister Modi's participation is being closely watched as India pushes for a more inclusive and balanced global order through the BRICS platform.