Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for strengthening BRICS and transforming the “pyramid of privilege” that pushes the Global South to the “back row of decision-making”, while seeking to allay Western anxieties regarding the grouping by clarifying that “we are not against anyone”.
“Today, the Global South stands in the front row of global crises but in the back row of decision-making. Today, BRICS too has arrived at its ‘coming of age’ moment. We must transform this pyramid of privilege into a platform of partnership – one where every nation has a voice, every member has a stake, and the development of humanity lies at the heart of every endeavour. He also called for strengthening BRICS. “Friends, this year’s BRICS Summit marks a historic milestone. We are celebrating the 20th anniversary of BRICS. It is a stage where dreams are joined by duties, and capabilities find a new direction. We respect each other’s perspectives and move forward through consensus. We are not against anyone; rather, we strive to move forward with the approach of taking everyone along,” he added.
To this end, I propose that we jointly formulate 10 proposals for global governance reform, aiming to shape them into a BRICS reform roadmap by the time of the next summit,” PM Modi said at the BRICS Summit that is underway in New Delhi. In human life, reaching 20 years of age marks the beginning of a new phase of maturity and responsibility. Over the past 20 years, BRICS has established a distinct identity on the global stage.
Elaborating on the pyramid analogy, PM Modi said the current global governance structure keeps power and decision-making concentrated at the top. At the 18th BRICS Summit, PM Modi told the gathering – also comprising Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian – that the grouping has established its distinct identity but is not “against anyone”. PM Modi also said that member nations respect one another’s perspectives.
