The BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting, chaired this year by India, held a virtual meeting on May 31. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar presided over the meeting. The meeting focused to a large extent on COVID and the need to get vaccines to the countries most in need. They also issued a joint statement supporting a political solution in Syria, calling for a halt to the conflict in Yemen, greeting the peace talks in Gaza, the need for African development etc. There was a general sense among the parties that BRICS has been playing an important role in its last 15 years and has much to contribute to the world community. The parties also issued a lengthy “BRICS Joint Statement on Strengthening and Reforming the Multilateral System.” [https://mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/33888/BRICS+Joint+Statement+on+Strengthening+and+Reforming+the+Multilateral+System]
The ministers also issued a 10-page media communiqué. [https://www.mid.ru/documents/10180/4758920/communique_english.pdf/92183600-e960-4a00-a4b2-107dbbcf7bab]
The role of India indicates that tension between India and China has subsided somewhat. In his opening statement Foreign Minister Jaishankar also expressed the sense of the BRICS group with regard to the system of governance. “We strive for a fair, just, inclusive, equitable and representative multipolar international system. It is one based on international law and the UN Charter, that recognizes the sovereign equality of all states, and respects their territorial integrity while displaying mutual respect for the interests and concerns of all,” he said. “It is only by conducting our policies in accordance with these principles that we can expect to bring about the change we desire.”
The call for systemic reform may not be met with much pleasure by the U.S. which has been courting India intensively to join their anti-China gambit.
