The timing of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s visit to Brazil for the 17th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Summit in July 2025 marked a critical juncture for a variety of reasons. Primarily, weaving in another Latin American country—Argentina—it signalled New Delhi’s intent to deepen strategic ties with the key Global South actors, aligning with its broader interests in advancing South-South cooperation. Second, the visit may have gained even more significance post-facto, given the 50 percent tariffs announced by the United States (US) on Brazil and its consequent desire to diversify. Finally, India and Brazil find themselves similarly positioned on most global issues, including the most urgent reforms of the global institutions. Given the intensification of conflicts around the world, the strain in the international order, which is marked by instability and a breakdown of multilateral consensus, perhaps it is the best time to strengthen the India-Brazil axis. The visit itself was a step in the right direction to achieve that goal. Keeping in line with the tradition, PM Modi engaged with members of the Indian diaspora upon his arrival, underscoring the importance of cultural and people-to-people ties in India’s foreign policy outreach.
India-Brazil Compact: A Guidelight for the Global South? (Marco Antonio Rocha – Observer Research Foundation)
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