The upcoming BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro is expected to feature a strong condemnation of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, reflecting a unified stance against terrorism and echoing India's long-standing call for firm global action. The leaders' declaration, set to be unveiled during the summit on July 6 and 7, will include strong language denouncing the "dastardly" attack and call for coordinated international action to confront terrorism head-on.
India, which is poised to assume the BRICS chairmanship next year, has played a key role in shaping the agenda. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's participation in the summit is an expression of India's solidarity with the bloc and an opportunity to connect with leaders of the Global South. The inclusion of the Pahalgam attack in the BRICS declaration is a testament to the member nations' sensitivity to the matter and their shared understanding of the need for collective and uncompromising action against terrorism. According to Ravi, all BRICS members have expressed sympathy, solidarity, and support to India, without any divergence or ambiguity.
Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, indicated that the declaration's wording had been "very well captured" and would meet India's expectations. He stated that the formulations in the declaration in reference to terrorism is going to be to India's "satisfaction". Ravi emphasized that there is a broader understanding on how to deal with the menace of terrorism and that no one should be spared in dealing with it.
The BRICS leaders are also expected to discuss alternate payment mechanisms for trade, but are likely to avoid "de-dollarization," which means getting rid of the U.S. dollar as a trading currency. According to Ravi, countries in the Global South are looking for alternatives, similar to how India is settling trade in rupees. However, he doesn't believe national currencies negate the dollar's utilization in the world, as the dollar will continue to exist in global trade as the most dominant currency.
The BRICS summit is expected to yield four concrete "deliverables," including global governance and artificial intelligence, a framework declaration on climate finance, and a partnership for the elimination of socially determined diseases. The BRICS declaration is also expected to feature a reference to the Iran-Israel conflict.
BRICS brings together 11 major emerging economies of the world, representing around 49.5% of the global population, around 40% of the global GDP, and around 26% of the global trade. In 2024, BRICS expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, with Indonesia joining in 2025.
