Highlights of BRICS Summit 2021

'BRICS @ 15: Intra-BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation, and Consensus' was the focal theme for India’s chairship.

• Three pillars of cooperation were identified, namely:
  • Political and Security
  • Economic and Financial
  • Cultural and People to People
• The summit centered around the political and security implications of recent events in Afghanistan, the economic repercussions of the pandemic, and collaborative efforts to combat the pandemic and other looming health crises.
• The member nations collectively condemned the terror attacks and emphasized the urgency to prevent Afghan territory from becoming a haven for terrorism and drug trafficking. They also highlighted the necessity for an inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue, addressing the humanitarian crisis, and upholding human rights, particularly those of women, children, and minorities.
• To combat global health threats and COVID-19 , the countries pledged to expedite the launch of the BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre.

Learn more about BRICS in the linked article.

Significance and Distinctiveness of BRICS

• BRICS has persistently championed the cause of developing economies by articulating their viewpoints and aspirations.
• BRICS unites five of the world's largest developing countries, representing 41% of the global population, 24% of the global GDP, and 16% of the global trade.
• The member nations have strived to cater to their unique needs and achieve tangible outcomes. Notable initiatives include:
  • The New Development Bank has been pivotal in mitigating the health and economic fallout of the pandemic. The NDB is also considering financing more social infrastructure projects in the member countries.
  • The BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan, endorsed by the respective National Security Advisors, is designed to implement the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy and outlines the approach and actions of the BRICS nations towards counter-terrorism cooperation.
  • Leveraging Digital and Technological Solutions to Achieve SDGs has been deemed a key priority for better implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) .

Challenges

• There are significant differences and a lack of consensus on important issues of common interest.
• Regarding Counter-Terrorism Cooperation, there is a divergence in the approach towards the Taliban. While many Taliban members are on the United Nations Security Council Sanctions List, China has extended its support to Afghanistan and the Taliban by announcing USD 31 million as aid. On the other hand, India has adopted a more cautious approach.
• A consensus on the reform of multilateral institutions has also been elusive. China has consistently thwarted India’s attempts to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council and has advocated for a “package solution” that is acceptable to all for reform.

Conclusion

Despite differences on certain issues, the effectiveness of BRICS in fostering comprehensive cooperation among the leading developing countries of the world cannot be disputed. The New Delhi Declaration adopted at the summit aims to strengthen the partnership among the member states.

Read more AIR Spotlight analyses here .