Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for the Global South to move from being a “rule-taker” to a “rule-shaper,” stressing the need for greater representation in global decision-making.
Addressing world leaders at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Modi said BRICS could play a key role in equipping young diplomats and policymakers from developing countries with negotiation skills, practical training and legal expertise. He added that India was ready to take the lead in providing the necessary training.
“Today, the Global South stands in the front row of global crises but in the back row of decision-making,” Modi said. He proposed transforming the existing “pyramid of privilege” into a “platform of partnership” where every nation has a voice and every member has a stake.
The remarks were made in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
BRICS Reform Roadmap Proposed
Modi also proposed preparing 10 recommendations for global governance reform, with the aim of developing a “BRICS Reform Roadmap” before the next summit.
He identified three key pillars for the roadmap: representation, responsiveness and rule-making. On representation, Modi said reforms to the United Nations Security Council could no longer be delayed. He also called for a clear timeline and measurable outcomes in text-based negotiations, while urging international financial institutions to align voting rights, leadership positions and policy priorities with current economic realities.
The prime minister said BRICS had become an important platform for advancing the interests of the Global South through sustained dialogue. He added that India’s BRICS chairmanship was guided by a people-centric and humanity-first approach, with resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability among its priorities.
Modi further said member nations would move forward through consensus rather than against any country. He urged the bloc to convert its unity into tangible outcomes on the global stage and work toward an ambitious agenda for the next 20 years.
