Kashmir Impulse Desk 

New Delhi, May 14

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met foreign ministers from BRICS member nations as India opened a two-day conclave of the bloc in New Delhi amid growing concerns over global trade tensions and instability in West Asia.

The diplomats who called on Modi included Sergey Lavrov, Abbas Araghchi, Mauro Vieira, Sugiono and Ronald Lamola.

India, which currently holds the BRICS chairmanship, is hosting the meeting ahead of the grouping’s annual summit scheduled for September.

The conclave comes at a time when BRICS nations are assessing the economic fallout from tensions in West Asia, including disruptions in energy supplies, as well as uncertainty surrounding US trade and tariff policies.

The meeting is being chaired by S Jaishankar.

Originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, BRICS expanded in 2024 with the inclusion of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, while Indonesia joined the grouping in 2025.

The bloc now represents nearly half of the world’s population, about 40% of global gross domestic product and roughly a quarter of global trade, positioning it as a major platform for emerging economies.