‘Weathering global shocks’: Jaishankar lays out India’s BRICS strategy amid dual-tariff pressure from US

“BRICS remains an important forum that encourages dialogue and cooperation and practical responses, taking into account national priorities at different stages of development,” he added.

India already faces a 25 per cent penalty tariff from the US for its oil import from Russia, another prominent BRICS member-state. Besides India, another BRICS member, Brazil, also faces a similar penalty tariff.

Jaishankar also spoke of “four broad priorities” guiding India’s BRICS 2026 chairship, stating that “resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability” are the precedents that will lead the 18th summit of the grouping, to be held later this year. These priorities will provide a coherent framework across the grouping’s three foundational pillars: “Political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges,” he said.

Senior leadership from Russia, China, Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran are expected to land in New Delhi for the leaders’ summit.

India to follow G20 Presidency model for BRICS 2026

For its year-long BRICS presidency, India will follow the model of its 2023 G20 Presidency and hold meetings and host delegations in all 28 states and nine Union Territories. Besides the leaders’ summit, there will be around 100 other meetings, including ministerials, forums and working groups, held across 60 Indian cities, officials say.

There are likely to be two meetings of the foreign ministers, one at the level of national security advisers, four-five sherpa or sous sherpa meetings, and around 20 ministerial meetings. Beyond the national capital, some key ministerial meetings will be held in cities including Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and Lucknow.

“We will endeavour to build structural institutional strengths capable of weathering global shocks. India intends to work with BRICS partners to build resilience in agriculture, health, disaster risk reduction, energy and supply chains, including through cooperative frameworks that enhance collective preparedness and response,” Jaishankar said.

He also noted that leveraging new and emerging technologies is crucial for tackling socio-economic challenges, especially those faced by developing nations. “Enhanced cooperation in areas such as start-ups, MSMEs, and emerging technologies can contribute meaningfully to building a more equitable world,” Jaishankar said, also emphasising sustainability as a crucial pillar of cooperation.

Highlighting the significance of the newly unveiled BRICS logo — a lotus in the colours of the BRICS nations — he said it reflects India’s approach to its chairship by combining elements of “tradition and modernity”.

“The petals incorporate the colours of all BRICS member countries, representing unity in diversity and a strong sense of shared purpose. The logo conveys that BRICS draws strength from the collective contributions of its members while respecting their distinct identities,” he said.

The BRICS grouping also includes Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Indonesia, while Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan are partner countries.