Global South victim of double standards, often received nothing more than token gestures: PM Modi at BRICS

PM Modi criticized mere “token gestures” on issues like clean technology and sustainability, urging major economies to do more. With BRICS expanding, adding Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE in 2024 and Indonesia in 2025, PM Modi emphasized that these new members prove the group’s adaptability and growing relevance for emerging nations. China and Russia fielded proxies, but Modi’s in-person presence underlined India’s commitment to multilateralism, highlighting the need to reform global governance in favor of inclusive growth.

“At the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, addressed the session on ‘Peace and Security and Reform of Global Governance.’ Expressed my views on why the voice of the Global South is more important than ever before and why it’s essential that global institutions provide adequate representation to the Global South for their own credibility and effectiveness,” Prime Minister Modi wrote on X.
 

He also said, “The Global South has often been a victim of double standards. Their interests haven’t been given priority. On pressing issues like climate finance, sustainable development and technology access, the Global South has often received nothing more than token gestures. In this era of AI, where technology updates on a weekly basis, it is unacceptable that global institutions haven’t undergone an update even once in eighty years. 21st-century software can’t run on a 20th-century typewriter!"

“The expansion of BRICS clearly shows that BRICS is an organization capable of changing itself with the times. Now, we need to show the same resolve for reforms in institutions like the UN Security Council, WTO, and multilateral development banks,” the Indian PM continued.