On September 8, 2025, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent India at the BRICS virtual summit, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi skips the event amidst escalating trade tensions with the United States. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is convening the summit, with the primary focus on addressing the disruptions caused by the Trump administration's trade and tariff policies.

The BRICS nations, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, have in recent years expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, forming a ten-member group that represents a significant portion of the global population, GDP, and trade. This virtual summit aims to foster a unified approach among member nations in response to what many perceive as aggressive and unfair trade practices by the U.S..

The decision for Jaishankar to represent India, instead of Modi, is viewed by some as a strategic balancing act, especially as Washington has expressed increasing suspicion regarding the BRICS agenda. Modi's absence comes even as India prepares to assume the BRICS presidency the following year. This move is also seen in light of Modi's recent participation in the SCO summit in Tianjin, where he displayed camaraderie with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This appearance was interpreted by some as a sign of India asserting its strategic autonomy amidst trade friction with the U.S.

The U.S. Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, has recently criticized India's involvement in BRICS, suggesting that India should either align with the U.S. and support the dollar or face a 50% tariff. Ironically, India has consistently opposed the idea of de-dollarization within BRICS, maintaining that it is not part of its strategy. Both India and Brazil have been subjected to 50% tariffs by the U.S. on certain exports. In India's case, tariffs were imposed on imports due to its purchase of Russian oil, while Brazil faces duties on exports like coffee.

Despite these trade tensions, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has reiterated that India regards its relationship with the U.S. as important and will continue to pursue a substantive agenda with the hope that the relationship will progress based on mutual respect and shared interests. India has emphasized the importance of mutual respect in the relationship, particularly in light of frequent anti-India remarks from senior officials within the Trump administration.

The BRICS summit is expected to address the issue of tariffs and explore ways to boost multilateralism. A joint statement may be issued following the meeting.