By R Anil Kumar
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The BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations met on 10 June 2024 in Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation. They exchanged views on major global and regional trends and issues
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The 10 full members of the BRICS Association include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa with new members Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia joining the grouping in 2023
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BRICS one of those associations where the principles of equal cooperation are implemented in deeds: Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister
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BRICS is driven forward by the wind of change, as its role in solving global problems will only increase: Sergey Lavrov
Moscow. The BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations met on June 10 in Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation. They exchanged views on major global and regional trends and issues. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the framework of BRICS Strategic Partnership under the three pillars of cooperation – politics and security, economy and finance, cultural and people-to-people exchanges. They reaffirmed their commitment to the BRICS spirit featuring mutual respect and understanding, equality, solidarity, openness, inclusiveness, and consensus.
India participated in the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting which began in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod on Monday, June 10, the first assignment for India’s foreign policy under the historic third consecutive term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations), at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), led the Indian side at the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov opened the BRICS Ministerial with a minute of silence in memory of the deceased former Iran President Ebrahim Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. He offered condolences to the people of Iran and the families of the victims.
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor, Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira, UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shokri and several other distinguished guests participated in the meeting. Heads of delegations also posed for a family photo ahead of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting.
While sharing the picture of leaders on X, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated, “Heads of delegations take part in the traditional #FamilyPhoto ceremony ahead of the #BRICS Ministerial.”
This is the first meeting of foreign ministers since the expansion of BRICS in 2023. The 10 full members of the association include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa with new members Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia joining the grouping in 2023.
Russia took over the chairmanship of BRICS on January 1, 2024.
In his opening remarks at the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting, Sergey Lavrov said, “We are glad to welcome you to one of the oldest cities in Russia, Nizhny Novgorod, whose history goes back more than 800 years,” according to the translation of the speech released by Russian Foreign Ministry.
“Today’s meeting will certainly leave a special mark not only in the chronicle of the city’s leading international events but also in the BRICS itself. For the first time, a meeting of the heads of foreign policy departments of the association is being held in a new, expanded composition,” he added.
He noted that the expansion of BRICS is a “clear confirmation of the process of formation of a multipolar world order.” He further said, “New centres for making globally significant political decisions are emerging from among the states of the Global South and East, from the states of the World Majority. These countries advocate a more just way of life based on the sovereign equality of states and civilizational diversity.”
Welcoming the active participation of the new members of BRICS, the Ministers assured continued support to their seamless and full integration into BRICS cooperation mechanisms.
The Ministers reiterated their commitment to multilateralism and upholding the international law, including the Purposes and Principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations (UN) as its indispensable cornerstone, and the central role of the UN in an international system in which sovereign states cooperate to maintain international peace and security, advance sustainable development, ensure the promotion and protection of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, and promoting cooperation based on solidarity, mutual respect, justice and equality.
The Members reiterated their commitment to enhancing and improving global governance by promoting a more agile, effective, efficient, responsive, representative, legitimate, democratic and accountable international and multilateral system and to assuring greater and more meaningful participation of developing and least developed countries, especially in Africa, in global decision-making processes and structures, and making them better attuned to contemporary realities.
Mindful of the 2023 Johannesburg II Declaration they voiced their support for a comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries in the Council’s memberships so that it can adequately respond to prevailing global challenges and support the legitimate aspirations of emerging and developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America, including BRICS countries, to play a greater role in international affairs, in particular in the United Nations, including its Security Council.
The Members reaffirmed the important role of the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation that comprises both developed and developing countries on an equal and mutually beneficial footing where major economies jointly seek solutions to global challenges to the achievement of universally beneficial and inclusive global economic growth.
They expressed their firm view that the G20 should continue to function in a productive manner, focusing on the delivery of concrete outcomes, taking decisions by consensus and reiterated their commitment to a balanced approach by continuing to amplify and further enhance inclusiveness of the G20 process through the effective integration of the voice of the Global South in the G20 agenda.
The Ministers reiterated that the consecutive G20 presidencies of India, Brazil and South Africa in 2023-2025 lay a solid ground for addressing inequalities, imbalances and shortcomings in the world economy, expressed support for continuity and collaboration in their G20 presidencies and wished them all success in their endeavours.
In this regard they endorsed the three priorities of Brazil as the G20 Presidency: fighting hunger, poverty and inequality; sustainable development in its three dimensions; and global governance reform, and looked forward to the successful hosting of the 19th G20 Summit under the Brazilian G20 Presidency. They reaffirmed their willingness to coordinate positions on the G20 agenda.
The Ministers reiterated that the objectives and provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement, including its principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC), in the light of different national circumstances, must be honoured.
They reaffirmed the call for developed countries to honour their climate finance commitments, including the collective goal of mobilising USD 100 billion per year to support the needs of developing countries.
The Ministers commended the United Arab Emirates for hosting the COP28 on 30 November – 13 December 2023 in Dubai. The Ministers supported Azerbaijan’s and Brazil’s leadership in hosting COP29 in 2024 and COP30 in 2025 and welcomed India’s candidacy to host COP 33 in 2028.
The Ministers expressed full commitment to a successful COP29 in Azerbaijan, with an expectation of strong outcomes on climate finance to developing countries, as a critical enabler for delivering on the current and future nationally determined actions and ambitions in mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage. The Ministers supported enhancing BRICS coordination on global health.
They expressed their concern about ongoing conflicts in many parts of the world and reiterated their commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes through diplomacy, inclusive dialogue and consultations in a coordinated and cooperative manner and supported all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of crises.
They recognized the importance of the increased participation of women in peace processes including in conflict prevention and resolution, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, post-conflict reconstruction and development, and sustaining peace. The Ministers called on the international community to seek collective answers to global and regional challenges and security threats, including terrorism and stressed the need to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and to respect the legitimate and reasonable security concerns of all countries.
They reiterated that differences and disputes between countries should be resolved peacefully through dialogue and consultation. Expressing strong condemnation of any acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed, they reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border terrorism and terrorism financing and safe havens.
They reiterated that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group and that all those involved in terrorist activities and their support must be held accountable and brought to justice in accordance with international law.
The Ministers urged to ensure zero tolerance for terrorism and rejected double standards in countering terrorism. They welcomed the activities of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group and its five Subgroups based upon the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan.
They also looked forward to further deepening counter-terrorism cooperation. The Ministers called for an expeditious finalization and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN framework.
The Ministers expressed the need to comprehensively strengthen mechanisms for countering the increased use, in a globalised society, by terrorists and their supporters of emerging and evolving technologies such as the Internet and other information and communications technologies, including social media platforms, for terrorist purposes, such as for recruitment and incitement to commit terrorist acts, as well as for the financing, planning, and preparation of their activities.
Also expressing their concern about the scale of drug-trafficking, its unprecedented impact on health and security they reaffirmed that the world drug problem remains a common and shared responsibility that should be addressed in a multilateral setting through effective and increased international cooperation and demands an integrated, multidisciplinary, mutually reinforcing, balanced, scientific evidence-based and comprehensive approach.
They acknowledged the importance of cooperation on drug-related matters among the BRICS countries and noted the BRICS Anti-Drug Working Group Meeting held on 21-22 May 2024 in Moscow and focused on tackling the criminal misuse of information and communication technologies for drug trafficking and the laundering of proceeds of drug-related crime.
The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to promote BRICS cooperation in the prevention of and fight against corruption and continue to implement the relevant international agreements in this regard, in particular the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
They welcomed the determination of the BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) to develop a common vision and undertake joint action to enhance anti-corruption cooperation, asset recovery and on denial of safe havens.
The Ministers noted the paramount importance of the efforts aiming at accelerating the implementation of the resolutions on the Establishment of a Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and other Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East, including the Conference convened pursuant to UN General Assembly Decision 73/546.They called on all invited parties to participate in this conference in good faith and engage with this effort constructively.
They also called for the full implementation of the UNSC Resolution 1540 which offers states an important impetus for adopting effective and robust measures at the national level to prevent weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and related materials from getting into the hands of non-state actors, including terrorists, as well as frameworks for cooperation at the international level for this aim.
The Ministers reasserted their support for ensuring the long-term sustainability of outer space activities and prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS) and of its weaponization. They expressed serious concern over exponential spread and proliferation of disinformation and misinformation. They emphasised the importance of ensuring free flow of and public access to accurate fact-based information, and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of opinion and expression as well as digital and media literacy in order to allow for meaningful connectivity, in accordance with applicable national and international law.
They also expressed their full support to the Russian Federation’s BRICS Chairship in 2024 under the theme “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security”. They expressed their commitment to working together to ensure the success of the XVI BRICS Summit.
The Ministers said they looked forward to the next BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations meeting to be held on the margins of UNGA79 and hosted by Brazil as incoming Chair of BRICS in 2025.
