PM Modi Warns Against Tech And Mineral Weaponisation At BRICS Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a strong caution against the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals during the concluding session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sunday, warning that such measures act as a drag on global advancement. Addressing leaders from all eleven member states and ten partner countries, Modi outlined India's four core pillars of resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability, while drawing broad international attention to the politically sensitive issue of mineral supply chains and technological exclusion.

The high-level gathering, attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior representatives from across the Global South, concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration after intense overnight negotiations. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa credited Indian leadership with securing consensus on the final text despite widespread expectations of a diplomatic deadlock. The summit deliberations also served as a backdrop for an extensive diplomatic push, featuring fifteen bilateral meetings held by Modi with visiting heads of state to deepen trade, defence, and regional partnerships.

Modi's remarks on the final day underscored growing international anxieties regarding near monopolies in critical mineral processing and the strategic use of export controls. The New Delhi Declaration formally underscored the imperative to promote reliable, diversified, and resilient supply chains to guarantee equitable benefit sharing, value addition, and economic diversification for resource-rich nations while preserving their sovereign rights.

Expanding on the resilience pillar, the Prime Minister highlighted the compounding impact of global conflicts, climate disasters, and health pandemics on ordinary citizens. He pointed to specific institutional frameworks established during India's presidency, including the Integrated Early Warning System for infectious diseases, early warning data integration guidelines for disaster management, and the Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework designed to insulate trade corridors from regional disruptions.

Turning to innovation, Modi detailed multilateral initiatives aimed at connecting regional economies beyond government-to-government pacts. The newly established BRICS Incubator Network and the proposed Startup Innovation Fund are structured to link early-stage enterprises across member and partner nations, facilitating scalable technological solutions.

Agriculture and food security also featured prominently through the launch of the BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture. According to official proceedings, the initiative integrates artificial intelligence, geospatial data systems, and digital public infrastructure to address the direct operational needs of farmers. Additional frameworks, such as the BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal and the Urban Mobility Hub, were introduced to foster knowledge sharing and market access for small enterprises and municipal authorities.

Beyond multilateral sessions, the summit acted as a diplomatic hub for extensive bilateral talks led by Prime Minister Modi with visiting leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Discussions with Ramaphosa encompassed economic cooperation alongside potential South African participation in the International Big Cat Alliance following past cheetah transfers.

Meetings with Nigerian Vice-President Kashim Shettima and Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye reinforced the strategic importance of the India-African Union partnership, building on the inclusion of the African Union during India's G20 presidency. Separately, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, reviewing bilateral ties and addressing the unfolding conflict in West Asia.