As Trump threat looms, Jaishankar backs BRICS in Parliament

As US President Donald Trump declares war on BRICS, threatening it with 100 percent tariffs for undermining the influence of dollar, India stressed its role as a founding member of the group saying it’s working to enhance understanding of BRICS activities among the “international community”.
In a statement in Parliament, external affairs minister S Jaishankar strongly defended BRICS saying it reflects the common concern of its members and seeks to make global debates and leadership more representative and inclusive.
“BRICS, a platform that has grown in membership and agenda over the last two decades. It is our endeavour to enhance understanding of BRICS activities among the international community,’’ said Jaishhankar, in response to a written question in the Lok Sabha about Trump’s tariff threat.
India, however, has qualified its support to the group with regard to the Trump-BRICS de-dollarisation strife, maintaining that it is not involved in any effort to weaken the dollar or have a common BRICS currency. As Jaishankar has said in the past, attacking the dollar is not a part of India’s economic or political/ strategic policy. India has conveyed the same to US authorities repeatedly in bilateral engagements.
“Understandably, as nations at different levels of development and income and bearing in mind their individual national interests, BRICS members have a range of positions on contemporary issues,’’ said the minister, responding to questions about Trump’s threats and the members’ opinions. According to Jaishankar, BRICS meetings and discussions are aimed at finding common ground and working together to shape the global order and their common thread is the commitment to multi-polarity.
Trump had said last month that BRICS, which comprises 11 member-states and 9 partner countries, had been “dead” since he issued his 100 percent tariff threat.
Jaishankar said that the BRICS platform, founded in 2006, has been progressing steadily since its inception. “While originally founded with four members (Brazil, Russia, India and China), it added South Africa in 2010. Thereafter, BRICS has expanded to comprise currently of 11 members and 9 partner countries. The expansion of membership and the interest displayed by many aspiring members is itself a statement of its status and importance,’’ said the minister, listing scores of issues, including UNSC reforms, that BRICS is trying to address. PM Narendra Modi has also used the platform to highlight India’s concerns over terrorism, seeking unity among the member-states on the issue.
“From time to time, regional political issues such as peaceful settlement in Afghanistan, permanent ceasefire in Gaza, situation in Lebanon, humanitarian crisis in Sudan and Haiti, situation in and around Ukraine, territorial integrity of Syria, have also been deliberated upon by BRICS members,’’ he added.