September 29, 2025

New Delhi bursts with news as the BRICS Foreign Ministers gathered in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last Friday. With India ready to take the BRICS Chair in 2026, the mood was serious and determined. The Ministers sent a strong, shattering message on terrorism. They "condemned in the strongest terms" the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that took place on April 22, 2025. They vowed zero tolerance and rejected any double standards in fighting terrorism worldwide. It was a clear stand to unite against hate everywhere. At the same meeting, a hint of concern was thrown towards the USA, without naming it directly. The Ministers expressed worry about rising trade barriers like soaring tariffs and non-tariff measures. This protectionism, they fear, could break global supply chains and shake up markets with uncertainty. After all, in today's tightly knit world, trade hurdles can spark big trouble! India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, took center stage to outline his vision for 2026. He revealed India’s BRICS Chairship focus: it will zoom in on food and energy security, tackle climate change seriously, and drive sustainable growth. How? Through smart digital transformation, booming startups, cool innovations, and stronger development partnerships. Sounds like a plan with punch! But the drama didn’t stop there. The Ministers also slammed Israel's attack on Qatar, calling it a "flagrant violation of Qatar's sovereignty" and a breach of international law, including the UN Charter. They underlined that the Middle East and North Africa crises should NOT be solved with guns but only through political and diplomatic talks. They reinforced the power of the UN Security Council in keeping peace and security worldwide. Looking ahead, the BRICS nations endorsed the 2023 Johannesburg II Leaders Declaration and strongly backed a major overhaul of the UN, including revamping the Security Council. In a bold call, they supported Brazil and India’s hopes to have bigger, stronger roles in the UN and its Security Council. Lastly, the Ministers made it crystal clear — BRICS will stick together! They promised to strengthen and unite their group based on mutual respect and the guiding principles agreed upon during the Johannesburg Summit in South Africa. In short, the BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting in New York was a spicy mix of tough talks, passionate promises, and bold visions for the future.

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Tags: Brics, Terrorism, Unsc reform, India, Trade protectionism, Middle east crisis,