BRICS Summit Faces Diplomatic Balancing Act Over Terrorism, Gaza Conflict And Tariffs

As the two day BRICS Summit begins in Rio on Sunday (6 July), diplomatic focus is on the upcoming BRICS Declaration, which is expected to carefully address several sensitive global issues.

According to a Times of India report, India is likely to find support for its position on cross-border terrorism, especially in the aftermath of the recent Pahalgam attack, but it may face pressure to adopt stronger stances on controversial global issues.

A Bloomberg report said that the draft BRICS statement includes a proposed condemnation of unilateral US tariffs and criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza, issues that New Delhi has approached with strategic caution.

India has been attempting to finalise a trade deal with the US ahead of President Donald Trump’s 9 July deadline for tariff suspensions, making any overt criticism diplomatically sensitive.

The draft declaration reportedly expresses serious concern about the situation in Palestinian territory, highlighting resumed Israeli attacks and impediments to humanitarian aid delivery into Gaza.

It includes a clause condemning the use of starvation as a method of warfare, a reference seen to be aimed at Israel.

A proposal for a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza is also under deliberation.

However, the declaration reportedly stops short of explicitly naming the Trump administration in its criticism of trade tariffs, indicating a lack of consensus among member states.

India, which recently abstained from a UN General Assembly vote calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, is likely to tread carefully amid BRICS discussions.

PM Modi is expected to strongly raise the issue of cross-border terrorism and emphasise Pakistan’s role in fostering extremism, in line with India’s long-standing counterterrorism agenda within BRICS.

Final tone of the declaration, to be adopted on 7 July, will signal the bloc’s collective diplomatic tone on several contentious global issues.

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