terrorism: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the visiting BRICS delegates that international terrorism threatens peace and security. He also said that victims of terror do not sit with the perpetrators of terrorism.
BRICS is a five-nation collective of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. These five countries represent 41% of the world’s population, 24% of the global GDP and 16% of the world’s trade.
In the past, Jaishankar has labelled Pakistan as a terrorist country which harbours Hafiz Sayid, Dawood Ibrahim and Masood Azhar – people who have mounted terrorist attacks on India.
China, a member of BRICS is a close friend of BRICS.
No reference to Ukraine
India believes the world is multipolar, said Minister Jaishankar. Expanding on this, he further said, “Our gathering must send out a strong message that the world is multipolar, that it is rebalancing and that old ways cannot address new situations. We are a symbol of change and must act accordingly.”
Until the breakup of the Soviet Union, geopolitics was bipolar in nature; there were only two superpowers in the world – the United States and the Soviet Union. Today, there are many power blocs like BRICS, SCO and QUAD.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov also attended this meeting. Skirting any reference to Ukraine, EAM Jaishankar said, “This responsibility is even greater as we contemplate the devastating aftereffects of the COVID pandemic, the stresses arising from conflict and the economic distress of the Global South.”‘South’ refers to the less-advantaged nations of the world.
Security Council Reform
EAM Jaishankar also emphasized upon the reform of the United Nations Security Council in the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meet.
The Security Council comprises China, the United States, Russia, France and the United Kingdom and can veto any SC resolution. India wants to be part of this Council.