Jaishankar Calls for Fair, Transparent Trade Practices at BRICS Virtual Meet

Quick Summary

• external Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar represented India at the virtual BRICS summit convened by Brazilian President Luiz inacio Lula da Silva on September 8, 2025.
• The summit focused on global trade disruptions, especially caused by U.S.tariff policies.
• Mr. Jaishankar emphasized protecting the principles of a non-discriminatory, rules-based international trading system and highlighted India’s concerns over trade deficits with BRICS partners.
• He advocated for more resilient and reliable supply chains to mitigate shocks and disruptions in global trade.
• Key issues raised included food,energy,fertilizer security for the Global South; ongoing conflicts like Ukraine; climate change priorities; and institutional reform within multilateral organizations such as the United Nations Security Council.
• Mr. Jaishankar called for diplomacy to resolve conflicts urgently but cautioned against selective protectionism linked to security and trade measures.

Indian Opinion Analysis

India’s participation at a high-level forum like BRICS underscores it’s intent to maintain strong ties with major economies while addressing pressing global challenges. The emphasis on clarity in economic practices aligns well with India’s own domestic push toward reforms aimed at building resilient systems.

While openly voicing concerns about India’s growing trade deficit with some BRICS members- notably China-Mr. Jaishankar’s tone reflected an approach focused on collaboration over confrontation within this grouping as a model for fairer economic exchanges globally.

Moreover, calls for reforms in multilateral institutions echo India’s longstanding stance advocating equity between developed and developing nations-a critical priority given current geopolitical fragility exacerbated by conflicts like Ukraine or Middle East unrest.

this summit helps strengthen India’s position as a balanced policymaker navigating complex relationships amid shifting power dynamics while pushing stakeholders toward rule-oriented cooperation internationally.

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