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India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, bringing together member nations under the themes of resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability.
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00:00Hello and a very warm welcome to an India Today special broadcast. I'm Gaurav Savan.
00:05The stage is set for the 18th BRICS Summit in the National Capital.
00:10Heads of state and governments of countries that represent almost 50% of global population,
00:1743% of global oil production, 40% of global GDP and 26% of global trade
00:22will be in the National Capital for the 18th BRICS Summit.
00:27All eyes also on a series of very important bilateral meetings
00:32between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several heads of state and government.
00:38One key focus area will also be the Chinese President Xi Jinping.
00:43The Chinese Foreign Office has confirmed Chinese President Xi Jinping
00:47will be coming to India for the 18th BRICS Summit.
00:50This incidentally will be his first visit to India
00:54after the 2019 Mammalapuram engagement and also the 2020 Galwan clashes.
01:01Now, India and China relationship once again went into deep freeze
01:07after tensions along the 3,500 km long line of actual control.
01:13But then there was some forward movement
01:16when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chinese President
01:19met in Kazan, Russia and then again in Tianjin in China
01:24and more recently at Bishkek.
01:27In fact, a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
01:31the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Chinese President Xi Jinping
01:34went viral not just at Tianjin but also at Bishkek.
01:38The three will also be together in New Delhi.
01:42Will there be a thaw in bilateral ties?
01:45Will the relationship move forward?
01:47Do Russia, India and China represent something in times to come?
01:52There are many questions
01:53but then it all depends on peace and tranquility
01:57along the line of actual control.
01:59We get you more in this report.
02:08The elephant and the dragon could be ready to dance again
02:11just days after hugs and handshakes at the SCS summit in Bishkek.
02:15Chinese President Xi Jinping is coming to India
02:17for the 18th BRICS summit on September 12th and 13th
02:21accepting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation.
02:24And all eyes are on the possibility
02:26of a Modi-Xi bilateral meeting on the sidelines.
02:31Xi is returning to India after seven years.
02:34His last visit was for the Mamalapuram informal summit in 2019.
02:38And this will be his first since the Galwan clash
02:41put a dent to Delhi waging ties.
02:45Over the last two years,
02:46India and China have slowly tried to put the relationship back on track.
02:50Modi and Xi held their first formal bilateral in nearly five years
02:54in Kazan in 2024 and followed it up with a meeting in Tianjin in 2025.
03:00And now, New Delhi is the stage.
03:03So what issues are likely to dominate the agenda?
03:07Peace and stability along the LSE,
03:10movement on the boundary question,
03:12and further de-escalation and better border management.
03:15India's huge trade deficit with China,
03:17Chinese curbs on high-tech exports,
03:19investment and market access barriers could all be in focus.
03:24Visas, people-to-people exchanges,
03:26connectivity and direct flights are also areas
03:28where the two countries have been trying to rebuild ties.
03:31And with both leaders meeting at BRICS,
03:33cooperation and global trade and the grouping itself
03:36could also be a part of the conversation.
03:39But the timing of Xi's visit is equally significant.
03:42National Security Advisor Rajit Doval
03:43travelled to China for talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi in August.
03:46The focus, managing differences and taking the boundary dialogue forward.
03:52India and China also held two rounds of core commander-level talks
03:56in the eastern sector in the first week of September.
03:59These were the first core commander-level meetings in the eastern sector,
04:02a mechanism that had originally been established
04:04in the western sector after the 2020 Galwan clash.
04:08So dialogue is clearly gathering pace.
04:11But a thought does not mean the sticking points have disappeared.
04:14The biggest remains the outstanding boundary dispute
04:17and the military trust deficit.
04:19Then there's China's claim over Arunachal Pradesh
04:22and India's concerns over Beijing's deep strategic and military partnership with Pakistan.
04:27Trade between the two countries may be enormous,
04:29but so is India's trade deficit,
04:31while restrictions around Chinese investment and technology remain.
04:34There are concerns over China's mega-damp project on the Yarlung-Sangpo,
04:38which flows into India as the Brahmaputra.
04:41And beyond the Himalayas, India and China continue to compete
04:44for strategic influence across the Indo-Pacific.
04:47Seven years later, the elephant and the dragon are sharing the same stage again in India.
04:52The handshake may signal a thaw, but can it deliver a lasting reset?
04:58Bureau Report, India Today.
05:01And let me get you some Chinese perspective on these latest developments.
05:06Zheng Songwu is a CGTN correspondent who joins me on this broadcast.
05:12Welcome.
05:13Chinese President Xi Jinping will be in New Delhi, in India,
05:17first time after Mamalapuram 2019.
05:20That time the relationship was on a high.
05:23Now, there seem to be efforts once again to bring this relationship on an even keel.
05:30What are expectations on the Chinese side?
05:33When the Chinese president comes to India, there is a delegation that comes.
05:37What are expectations on the Chinese side?
05:40Okay, yeah.
05:42We know that China always values the relationship between China and India.
05:47And also, China always values BRICS cooperation.
05:51And of course, we support India in successfully hosting this year's subnet.
05:57We do support India successfully holding this subnet.
06:01Since as a natural member of the Global South, China has kept updating its messages BRICS over the past decade.
06:11But one thing I think China has never changed, that is China has consistently championed a more equitable global governance
06:20system
06:20that gives the Global South, and of course, including India, a stronger voice.
06:25So, what has changed is how this vision is pursued from the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness, cooperation,
06:36and the win-win progress in 2014.
06:40And of course, the greater BRICS cooperation in 2024, and also the three uphills in 2025.
06:48And also, China also values the further relationship with India in infrastructure, in cultural exchanges,
07:00people-to-people exchanges, and economic ties, et cetera.
07:04So, I think tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, the subnet, I think we have sound reasons to expect
07:12to President Lachis talk with Prime Minister Modi.
07:20Sure, there's a lot to unpack from, you know, your answers, but on the critical issues,
07:26on the issues of divergence, and India has made it repeatedly clear on multiple occasions
07:31that there has to be peace and tranquility at the borders for the overall relationship to move forward.
07:37So, some steps have been taken.
07:39Do you think there is forward movement towards identification of the problem
07:45and ultimate resolution of the problem?
07:50Personally, I'm not a politician.
07:52I'm not a diplomatic people.
07:54But from my own perspective, I'm very confident about the relations between China and India
08:02because we are both the bigger countries with big, large, huge populations.
08:07We have 1.4 billion people.
08:12So, let's just expect that we can work together in the future for more cooperation,
08:18not only just in addressing the border issues, but also in people-to-people exchanges,
08:23as I said, the cultural exchanges, economic ties, whatever.
08:29So, I think as the two big countries in the world with the largest population,
08:36I think we have some reasons to cooperate.
08:40So, the focus will be more on convergence, less on divergence,
08:44but then both India and China, very powerful economies, the most populous countries,
08:50and when India and China speak in one voice, the world is compelled to listen.
08:56Will they speak in one voice?
08:59Is there movement towards that direction?
09:02Because this is something that will establish a very powerful norm
09:07in case India and China were to speak in one voice on issues that impact the entire world.
09:14Okay.
09:15First of all, I think with decades' efforts,
09:19BRICS now accounts for roughly 39% of the global GDP
09:23and nearly half of the world's population and over 50% of the global growth.
09:31And also, the internal trade amount of members has surged from 84 billion U.S. dollars
09:37to over 1 trillion U.S. dollars.
09:40And also, the New Development Bank has approved 139 projects with 43 billion U.S. dollars.
09:49So, BRICS has become a key platform for solidarity and cooperation among global South countries.
09:58So, personally, I'm still confident and hopeful that China,
10:03with the other 10 BRICS countries, including India, of course,
10:08and together with the 10 partner countries,
10:12will have pushed for greater representation of the global South in global governance.
10:18That's what I'm thinking about.
10:21Yeah, that's a very interesting point.
10:23You focus on people-to-people ties.
10:26As far as the Indian civilization and the Chinese civilization,
10:30amongst the oldest civilizations of the world that continue to flourish
10:35and people-to-people contact can play a very important role
10:39in strengthening this relationship.
10:42So, do you see more movement towards more engagement
10:45between the people of India and the people of China?
10:48Well, I'm a journalist from China Global Television Network.
10:52And personally, I'm a reporter.
10:55I'm a journalist.
10:56And I always believe that we see things differently.
11:01And probably tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,
11:04I will go to the International Media Center.
11:06And I hope that we can, from a journalist's perspective,
11:11I can talk to, communicate with different journalists or reporters
11:16from different media outlets globally,
11:19and I hope to listen to their opinions.
11:22And also, I hope they can listen to our opinions
11:26and that we can work together maybe to communicate
11:30with our different perspectives.
11:33Of course, differences are very normal,
11:35but we hope that we can sit down and just communicate with each other,
11:41learn from each other to make contributions to the report
11:46and, of course, the global self-throw.
11:52On India-China ties and on the 18th BRICS Summit
11:57at the India Today Global Aaj Tak BRICS Roundtable,
12:01I spoke to former Chief of Air Staff,
12:04Air Chief Marshal Arkias Bhadoriya,
12:06and former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral D.K. Tripathi,
12:10about the trajectory of the India-China relationship
12:14and the BRICS Summit.
12:15And can security be a very critical role
12:19in ensuring that the economies move forward.
12:21We get you excerpts of that conversation.
12:24Ladies and gentlemen, good evening.
12:26When we talk of BRICS Shakti,
12:30what are we talking about?
12:31We are talking about 49% of global population,
12:3643% of global oil production.
12:38What we are also talking about is 40% of global GDP
12:41and 26% of global trade.
12:45And this, to grow, requires security.
12:49And who better to talk about the security challenges
12:53and the opportunities ahead
12:55than former Chief of Air Staff,
12:58Air Chief Marshal Arkias Bhadoriya.
13:00He was the Chief of Air Staff
13:02during the Galwan standoff in 2020.
13:06And Admiral D.K. Tripathi,
13:07former Chief of Naval Staff,
13:08he was the Chief of Naval Staff
13:10during Operation Sindhoor.
13:12And we know how brilliantly India performed
13:16both during Operation Snow Leopard
13:18and Operation Sindhoor.
13:19Sir, welcome.
13:21Such a privilege to have you on the dais with me
13:24when you're talking about these critical challenges
13:25that we face as a nation.
13:29What is also interesting is
13:31the Chinese President, Xi Jinping,
13:34he's visiting India for the BRICS summit
13:37and the bilateral,
13:38the first bilateral after Mamalapuram,
13:40the first after Galwan 2020.
13:43Air Chief Marshal Bhadoriya,
13:44how do you view the visit of the Chinese President,
13:48both for BRICS and for the bilateral?
13:50I think it's a very, very important development
13:52and President Xi coming himself and attending.
13:55It will have a direct impact
13:56on how our relations are going to improve,
13:58even the cooling of temperatures on the LAC.
14:01A lot of improvement has taken place in the recent past.
14:04And I think this bilateral, which will happen,
14:07which is already in the works,
14:10will have a great impact as to the pace,
14:13the depth of improvement in relations
14:15as far as even the military
14:16and the security situation is concerned.
14:18So I see it very, very, very positively.
14:20For BRICS itself, it is a huge signal.
14:24He himself being here,
14:25President Putin being here,
14:26I think that's a big signal within the BRICS,
14:29the importance of BRICS,
14:32how BRICS is being viewed globally,
14:34and it will have a serious impact
14:36even on the global viewpoint.
14:38When the heads of state and government
14:40of the world's two most populous countries
14:43meet and shake hands,
14:45there was a very positive dimension
14:47to the India-China relationship.
14:51You know, first Wuhan,
14:53and then Mamalapuram,
14:55and then Galwan happened.
14:57Now they are meeting once again.
14:59Your expectations, Admiral?
15:02Thank you very much for inviting me
15:04for this roundtable.
15:06It is important.
15:08And of course,
15:09the context which you have brought out,
15:10the visit of the Chinese president,
15:15any form of communication,
15:17interaction is always good
15:18because that brings in confidence,
15:21that brings in reliability,
15:23and it obviously gives a push
15:25to the ongoing deliberations
15:27at the working level and beyond.
15:30So I look at this very positively,
15:34and I hope that the things
15:37will improve from here.
15:39It's not only good for bilateral relations.
15:41Will it be also good for BRICS
15:43as an entity while it's an economic grouping?
15:46But how do you look at it?
15:48For example,
15:50bilaterally, you say,
15:50okay, it could be a positive move forward
15:54multilaterally?
15:56Of course,
15:57along with all the data
15:58which you gave,
16:01I would also like to highlight
16:02that this enhanced grouping
16:04of 11 partner countries
16:07in the BRICS,
16:10out of these,
16:12seven are in G20.
16:14And India, China,
16:16and Indonesia are growing at,
16:18all are growing at 5% and more.
16:20Not many countries,
16:22big countries especially,
16:23not many big countries in the world
16:25are growing at that rate.
16:28And the data which you gave,
16:30that 50%, 40% GDP,
16:33is for 11 countries.
16:35That means 184 rest of the countries
16:38actually contribute the balance of it.
16:40So you can do your math.
16:42And therefore,
16:43the grouping of these 11 countries
16:45obviously carry a lot of heft
16:47in the geopolitics,
16:50but more importantly,
16:52in geoeconomics.
16:52And therefore,
16:56I think India is hosting the,
16:58being the chairman
16:59for the fourth time
17:00since the formation of BRICS.
17:03It's a great occasion,
17:06not only for the BRICS per se,
17:08but I would say for the entire world.
17:10Because whatever happens
17:12within the BRICS
17:13certainly affects the entire planet.
17:17And more so if they're on the same page,
17:21security challenges
17:22that these countries face
17:24and the world that,
17:26and the world facing these security challenges,
17:29do you see this just as talk shop?
17:31It's more of an economic grouping,
17:33but for economy to grow,
17:36you need security.
17:37So what are the opportunities
17:38and what are the challenges?
17:41I think,
17:42you know,
17:43it is economic
17:45in terms of its basic nature,
17:46but it has a direct impact
17:48that the Dosti at this level
17:50within the BRIC countries
17:51has a direct impact
17:52on every other field.
17:54And therefore,
17:55if you have to talk
17:56from a defense security perspective
17:57or any perspective,
17:59at the bilateral level
18:00with each,
18:01whatever we have,
18:01either collaboration
18:03in technologies
18:04or in advanced systems
18:05with Russia,
18:06let's say,
18:07with Brazil,
18:07in terms of our ability
18:10for our defense productions
18:12to be exported
18:13to other partner countries,
18:15you know,
18:15UAE is part,
18:16Egypt,
18:17Saudi Arabia,
18:19Indonesia,
18:20South Africa.
18:21So overall,
18:22the increase in Dosti
18:24within the BRICS
18:25has a very,
18:26very multiplicative effect
18:28on all aspects.
18:29And from our defense industry
18:31or defense perspective,
18:33defense engagements,
18:34our, you know,
18:35our combat capability
18:37improvement in defense,
18:38our exports improvement
18:39possibilities,
18:40everything will get affected.
18:42Including our problems,
18:44you know,
18:44there are security problems
18:45within countries.
18:46We have a problem
18:47with China on the borders.
18:50Even that improves.
18:52There is
18:52throwing of relations,
18:53Dosti at BRICS level
18:54has a direct impact
18:55that those relations improve.
18:58Similarly,
18:58I'm sure there will be
18:59effect on the other side,
19:01even on the Iran side.
19:02So I feel
19:03BRICS is growing
19:05in importance.
19:06The heft
19:07at the BRICS level
19:08has a very multiplicative
19:10effect
19:10down the line.
19:12We have to start
19:13looking at our own
19:14regional security.
19:14So our ability
19:16to provide,
19:17to be leaders
19:18in our regional security framework,
19:20to have a regional security framework,
19:22we can be part
19:22of the leadership group
19:23which can do that.
19:24That changes.
19:26Our abilities
19:26for handling
19:28important issues
19:29of technology,
19:30be it AI related,
19:31be it cyberspace related,
19:33that changes.
19:34So let's take this
19:35step by step.
19:37When we talk
19:37of the current scenario,
19:39look at the challenges
19:40that the world faces,
19:42including challenges
19:42that BRICS nations face.
19:45You know,
19:45Air Chief Marshal
19:46Badoria spoke of
19:47the India-China challenge.
19:49You know,
19:50Russia-Ukraine
19:51conflict is a challenge
19:53which has an impact
19:53on the entire world.
19:55U.S.-Iran war
19:56or U.S. tension
19:57or Iran's tensions
19:59with Saudi Arabia
20:00and UAE.
20:00You know,
20:01that will be reflected
20:02even in this grouping.
20:05How difficult
20:06would it be
20:07to steer this
20:09at this point of time
20:09and militarily,
20:11how serious
20:11is the challenge,
20:13Admiral?
20:14Firstly,
20:16you know,
20:18BRICS is not
20:18an alliance.
20:20Certainly,
20:20it is not
20:20a military alliance.
20:22And it is
20:24a grouping of,
20:26I would say,
20:28nations with
20:29diverse interests.
20:31Having said that,
20:33I think leaders
20:36and countries
20:38are smart enough
20:39to understand
20:39that we need
20:40to find ways
20:41and means
20:42to work together
20:44in areas
20:44where there are
20:45common interests.
20:47The trick is
20:48whether we can
20:50be smart enough
20:51to let the differences
20:52be aside
20:53and continue
20:55progressing
20:55on common interests.
20:57So,
21:00you know,
21:00common problems
21:01which are facing
21:02all the BRIC countries
21:03obviously bring in
21:04common interests
21:05and those will
21:07always
21:07be more effective
21:09than any common
21:10ideology
21:10if you go into
21:11ideology.
21:12So,
21:13why is there
21:14is a,
21:15you know,
21:15each country
21:16has got
21:16its own
21:16national interests
21:17but as a grouping
21:18because we carry
21:19so much heft
21:20largely economically,
21:22geo-economically
21:23and even
21:25geopolitically.
21:27Therefore,
21:28I am very
21:29sanguine
21:29that there
21:31will be
21:31positive results.
21:32We have come
21:33a long way.
21:34Certainly,
21:35from the time
21:36you know,
21:36it was formed
21:37from 2009
21:39then the National
21:40Security Advisors
21:41level,
21:41you know,
21:42started meeting
21:43and then they
21:43went into
21:46you know,
21:46issue areas
21:47like
21:48terrorism,
21:50counter-terrorism.
21:51In fact,
21:52the BRICS
21:542020
21:55counter-terrorism
21:57you know,
21:58action plan
22:00was further
22:01enhanced
22:01by the Rio
22:02declaration
22:03of 2025
22:04where they linked
22:05in,
22:05you know,
22:05illegal arms,
22:07you know,
22:08unaccountable
22:09financing,
22:10etc,
22:10etc.
22:10So,
22:11I have no doubt
22:11that under
22:13India's
22:13chairmanship
22:14those issues
22:15will be
22:15highlighted again
22:16because that is
22:18I think
22:19one of the areas
22:20where all
22:21the BRICS
22:21countries
22:22should be
22:23on the same
22:24page
22:24because everybody
22:25is affected
22:25on that.
22:26They indeed
22:27are.
22:28If we were
22:28to talk about
22:29the traditional
22:30threats
22:30and the
22:31non-traditional
22:31threats
22:31and the
22:32non-traditional
22:32challenges,
22:33I will come
22:33to non-traditional
22:34challenges
22:35in just a
22:35moment,
22:35but if we
22:36were to
22:36talk about
22:36the threat
22:37of terrorism,
22:39piracy on
22:40the high seas,
22:41do you see
22:43more cooperation,
22:45do you see
22:45enhanced cooperation
22:46on these issues
22:48ensuring sea
22:49lanes of
22:50communications
22:50also remain
22:51open?
22:52Do you expect
22:53cooperation there?
22:54of course,
22:55because a pirate
22:56in the Gulf
22:57of Aden,
23:00he does not
23:01see which
23:02country,
23:03which nationality,
23:04which flag,
23:05he does not
23:05see a merchant
23:06ship,
23:06how much
23:07geopolitical
23:08heft that ship
23:09has got.
23:10He just sees
23:10the ship
23:10and he just
23:13takes a shot
23:13and he does
23:14what he is
23:14supposed to do.
23:15So therefore,
23:17in areas like
23:18anti-piracy
23:19operations and
23:20many other
23:21crimes at sea,
23:22there is
23:23absolutely no
23:24doubt that we
23:26need to work
23:26together.
23:27And maritime
23:28domain actually
23:28provides that
23:29or enables that
23:31kind of thing
23:32because we
23:34may have
23:34political
23:37differences or
23:38views on many
23:38issues,
23:39but when you
23:40are at sea,
23:41you know,
23:42because there
23:43are already
23:45established means
23:46of communications,
23:48there are
23:48established means
23:48of safe
23:49navigation,
23:50there are
23:50established means
23:51of, you know,
23:52talking to each
23:52other,
23:54these things
23:55happen more
23:56quickly,
23:57exchange of
23:58information,
23:58et cetera,
23:59et cetera,
23:59and it
24:00actually bypasses
24:01if any
24:03approvals are
24:04to be taken.
24:04So I have no
24:05doubt that in
24:07the maritime
24:07domain,
24:08which is
24:08important,
24:09I mean,
24:10you are short
24:10of time,
24:11I could lay
24:11the data,
24:1280% of the
24:13world state
24:14passes through
24:15the maritime
24:17domain,
24:17it is not
24:18going to come
24:18down anytime
24:19soon.
24:20So whilst you
24:20can bring,
24:21you know,
24:22bring in any
24:22kind of,
24:23you know,
24:24establishment,
24:25all kinds of
24:26regulations,
24:27you can sign
24:27memorandum of
24:28understanding,
24:29but at the
24:30end of it,
24:31all that,
24:33especially
24:33economy,
24:34has to sail
24:35in the same
24:35water.
24:36Okay,
24:36and that water
24:37has to be kept
24:38safe both
24:39at sea
24:40and from
24:41the air,
24:42does air
24:43provide that
24:44speed and
24:44cooperation in
24:45the air?
24:46While you have
24:47that cooperation
24:47in the air for
24:48civil aviation,
24:50can military
24:50aviation also find
24:51ways to cooperate,
24:52especially now
24:53when you're moving
24:53from fighter jets
24:55to more drones
24:57for surveillance,
24:58for example,
24:59or ISR?
25:01Yes,
25:01of course.
25:02You know,
25:03in peacetime,
25:03ISR has a huge
25:04role to play.
25:06Increasingly,
25:07the unmanned
25:07portion in ISR
25:08with very long
25:10timings in the air,
25:11that is the way
25:12forward,
25:12and it will keep
25:13shifting to the air,
25:14to the space.
25:15So our space
25:16sensors and ISR
25:17capability of
25:18unmanned platforms,
25:20that part of the
25:21air power has a huge
25:22role to play.
25:23And when there is
25:24any active involvement
25:25required in terms of
25:26providing any security
25:27that you're providing
25:28and taking any action,
25:29of course,
25:30the air power assets
25:31come in handy.
25:32The strengths are
25:33only increasing,
25:34both on the
25:34mand and on the
25:35mand side.
25:36So, again,
25:37I come back to
25:38regional security
25:39frameworks that can
25:40be enhanced.
25:41And a very big
25:43element of this
25:44comes in handy
25:45when you are able
25:47to operate together
25:47for things like
25:48disaster relief.
25:50So disaster risk
25:50reduction is already,
25:51a lot of work has
25:52started under
25:53bricks.
25:54And in due course,
25:55I think these are
25:56the areas where
25:56cooperation will
25:57show,
25:58counterterrorism,
25:59disaster relief,
25:59these are already
26:00works in progress.
26:01So, taking off from
26:02there, I'll just add
26:03one point.
26:04You know, you
26:05talked of a group,
26:07but even bilateral
26:09relations between
26:10the BRICS countries,
26:12I think it is
26:13well-established and
26:14we are working on
26:15almost on all fronts
26:17of security aspects
26:19I'm talking,
26:19on all fronts as to
26:21how do we work
26:21together if there
26:22was a requirement to
26:23do, whether it is
26:24a benign operation
26:26like HADR or even
26:28a constabulary
26:29operation like
26:29anti-piracy operation
26:31or anti-drug
26:33trafficking operation,
26:35information exchange,
26:36which is happening,
26:37I'm talking about
26:38wide shipping information,
26:40it is happening on
26:40a continuous basis
26:42with a large number
26:43of countries.
26:45So, there is a way
26:48forward moving both
26:50as a group, but also
26:52bilaterally amongst
26:53the 11 countries.
26:54But will BRICS
26:55security cooperation
26:56be looked at with a
26:57lot of suspicion?
26:58The West anyways
27:00looks at BRICS as
27:01an anti-West grouping
27:03and, you know,
27:05India repeatedly says,
27:06no, we are not
27:06anti-West, we are
27:07non-West.
27:08But if there is
27:09increased military
27:09cooperation, one,
27:11would it be looked at
27:12with suspicion by
27:13several European
27:15countries or the
27:16United States of
27:16America, point one,
27:17point two, when you
27:18speak of, you know,
27:20humanitarian aid and
27:21disaster relief,
27:22recently we saw in
27:24the disaster in Nepal,
27:27you know, there could
27:28have been more
27:29cooperation, you know,
27:31China is a big
27:32country, India is a
27:33huge country, both
27:34were working almost
27:35independently and
27:36Nepal did most of
27:37the heavy lifting
27:38according to reports
27:39and we had our teams
27:40on ground, does that
27:41indicate that that
27:42trust level is not
27:44there even for
27:45HADR?
27:46Yeah, firstly,
27:47there is no military
27:48domain in the BRICS
27:49charter at the
27:50moment, which you
27:51had explained
27:51originally, but
27:52irrespective, when
27:54there is a requirement
27:56to exercise the
27:57military assets for
27:58providing any relief
28:00or for providing any
28:02help, that is where
28:03all this cooperation
28:04will come in handy.
28:05So under BRICS, I
28:06think it is work in
28:07progress on all these
28:08aspects and whenever
28:09there is a requirement
28:10of help, especially
28:11from disaster relief
28:12perspective, we must
28:14evolve our policies,
28:15methodologies and
28:16ability to work
28:17together to not only
28:19provide information
28:19for risk reduction but
28:20also provide help
28:22when it's required.
28:22And you gave this
28:23example, yes, in
28:24times to come, I
28:25think we will share
28:26more information and
28:27be more proactive that
28:28the damages are
28:30prevented well in
28:31time, the information
28:32flows fast.
28:33And again, I come
28:34back that the
28:35challenges of
28:35technologies that are
28:36coming, AI related,
28:38ICT devices, your
28:40cyberspace, your
28:41weaponization of
28:41cyberspace, your
28:43safety of critical
28:43infrastructure should
28:45not be affected by
28:47utilization of
28:47cyber in a wrong
28:50manner across.
28:51So these are
28:52areas where
28:52cooperation when it
28:53happens at BRICS
28:55level, I think it
28:55will have a direct
28:56connotation of
28:57improvement in
28:58security.
28:58You know, that's a
28:59very important point.
29:00That's a very
29:01important point you
29:01raise and I'd like
29:02you to elaborate
29:03Admiral on the
29:04non-traditional
29:05challenges or the
29:06non-traditional
29:07threats.
29:07You know, all the
29:08mobile phones that
29:09youngsters here have,
29:11there could be a
29:11threat to their
29:12mobile phones.
29:13There could be a
29:14threat from
29:16cyberspace to
29:17banking, to
29:18assets.
29:19How does one
29:20cooperate to guard
29:22against that?
29:22And I notice I have
29:23everybody's attention
29:24the moment it came to
29:25their mobile phones.
29:28Yeah, so I
29:30think all the
29:31threats to their
29:32mobile phones and
29:33you know, the rest
29:34of the things, these
29:36youngsters know better
29:37than all of us
29:37sitting there.
29:38They exactly know
29:39the technology, they
29:39understand technology
29:40better.
29:41Having said that, I
29:43would again reiterate
29:44you talked about the
29:45West looking at this
29:47BRICS as something
29:49like, you know,
29:50An anti-West
29:50grouping.
29:52To my understanding,
29:55BRICS is, I
29:56amalgamation of
29:57this grouping, which
29:58is looking at
30:00anti-security
30:01challenges.
30:02I'm talking of
30:03security domain.
30:04So whatever the
30:05security challenges
30:06are there, whether
30:07and largely those
30:08are non-traditional,
30:11whether it is, you
30:13know, like I said,
30:14piracy, whether it
30:15is maritime
30:16terrorism or the
30:19terrorism itself in
30:20the larger sense,
30:21whether it is robbery,
30:24drug trafficking, human
30:25trafficking, and now
30:26you bring in the
30:27climate angle, the
30:29climate change, which
30:29is going to happen, and
30:30all kinds of
30:31projections are there by
30:322050, certain countries
30:34will vanish from the
30:34planet because of the
30:36rise of sea levels.
30:37There is a huge scope, in
30:39my view, for the BRIC
30:40nations because they
30:41carry a lot of heft to
30:43cooperate on that
30:45HADR angle and work
30:47together.
30:47and it is one of the
30:50more benign, I think,
30:52areas where despite
30:55perceived political
30:56differences, even
30:58ideological differences,
31:00we can certainly work on
31:01that and help people who
31:05are in need, help countries
31:06who are in need.
31:07And I'm sure that will
31:10bring in more power, so to
31:14say, in the eyes of the
31:16world, these 11 countries
31:17can really make a
31:18difference.
31:18What is the biggest
31:20challenge that BRICS as a
31:22grouping faces in your
31:24view, sir?
31:27I think the challenge now
31:31is geopolitically, if you
31:33see the importance of
31:35BRICS coming together and
31:38transitioning to a stronger,
31:40more capable partnership, I
31:43think that is the challenge
31:44that the time has come that
31:46BRICS becomes more
31:46powerful, they have to
31:47continue to increase.
31:48And I think all the member
31:49countries know it, I think
31:50it is going to happen.
31:53More importantly, we have
31:55to overcome the security
31:57contradictions and
31:58complications within some
31:59member countries.
32:00And like we discussed
32:02earlier, I think when
32:04overall dosi increases at
32:06the top level in BRICS
32:07amongst 11 countries, and
32:09this number might grow in
32:10future, it will only have
32:12cascading effect on all
32:14matters, and even those
32:15challenges will be easier
32:17to handle in time to come.
32:19So I think the challenge is
32:20more to look at the
32:22situation globally and come
32:24together strongly, and I
32:25think under the current
32:27leadership of Prime Minister
32:28Modi, that is the direction
32:29and that is the strong push
32:31that is being given to make
32:33that happen.
32:34And you see the many
32:36indicators that are coming of
32:37the changes in thinking,
32:39attitudes, the strength that
32:41is coming to BRICS, and the
32:42attention that BRICS is
32:43getting globally.
32:44You know, because if you
32:45look at one of the biggest
32:46challenges right now, it
32:48would be, for example, the
32:50Strait of Hormuz.
32:51One would want freedom of
32:52navigation, but sea lanes of
32:54communication are not open
32:55there.
32:56The second threat that comes
32:57at the second choke point,
32:58Gulf of Aden, you know,
33:00Babal Mandab onwards, there is a
33:02huge challenge there.
33:05Can BRICS countries come
33:06together because, you know,
33:08it's a very important
33:09grouping to find a solution
33:11because that will help not
33:13just BRIC countries.
33:14China would want sea lanes of
33:15communication open, both
33:17Suez Canal and Strait of
33:18Hormuz.
33:19We want it open.
33:20Others would want it open.
33:22That would help global
33:23economy.
33:24Absolutely.
33:26You know, we know what
33:27happened during the Red Sea
33:29crisis.
33:32all kinds of, you know,
33:36projections which were meant
33:37in terms of global trade,
33:40in terms of economy.
33:41They went, obviously, it's
33:42south.
33:43There was rerouting of
33:45ships.
33:45There were drop in
33:47container traffic from the
33:48Suez Canal, and that was
33:512023 onwards.
33:53And now latest, of course,
33:54whatever is happening in
33:56closer home, that has its own
33:58effect.
34:00Every day, more than 20
34:03million, you know, metric
34:05tons of oil passes through
34:07the Strait of Hormuz, and
34:10little more from the
34:11Malacca Strait.
34:12So that is the kind of
34:14energy, and I'm talking of
34:15the oil only.
34:16So LNG and everything else
34:18is separate.
34:19So there is, obviously,
34:21interest of all the BRICs
34:24countries and certainly all
34:25the rising economies who are,
34:27you know, energy hungry, to
34:29make sure that the seas remain
34:32safe because of the nature of
34:34environment.
34:35The trade is going to move
34:37through the seas.
34:38I have no doubt that everybody
34:40is working.
34:42Some may be in the background,
34:43some openly, and we as a
34:46country have opened up very, at
34:47various fora we have, I think,
34:49articulated that this war needs
34:53to end and, you know, the trade
34:55should not be impacted.
34:58And unsuspecting merchant ships
35:00flying from place to place, we
35:02should not come under attack.
35:03So there is, there is a lot of
35:05work to be done, but I am
35:08eternally, you know, positive
35:09thinker.
35:10So I believe that something will
35:13happen and situation will be
35:16brought under control.
35:17Because whether it's the war
35:19that's happening in West Asia
35:20or the one that started in
35:22February 2022 between Russia and
35:25Ukraine, Air Chief Marshal,
35:27it's impacting not just the
35:30region, it's impacting the
35:31entire world and especially the
35:33developing world, not just in
35:34terms of oil, but also
35:36fertilizers, for example, both
35:38state of Hormuz and from Russia
35:40and Ukraine, non-availability of
35:41fertilizers or reduced availability
35:43impacts India, impacts Africa,
35:46impacts so many global South
35:47countries.
35:48Absolutely, absolutely.
35:50Everything that depends on
35:51energy and fertilizers you
35:53mentioned.
35:54So the cascading effect of all
35:55this that is going to have on
35:57the economy is huge.
35:59So we have seen this and the
36:01impact on the global economy.
36:02And therefore the importance of
36:04some of the decisions that have
36:06been taken to diversify our
36:08resources, to conserve the kind of
36:11energy requirements, to think of
36:13the future in a different manner,
36:14be it nuclear, be it solar,
36:16be it other, you know, other
36:18aspects of energy resources.
36:21And from military perspective,
36:23again, the impact that these
36:25developments have had, and
36:27therefore the need for us to
36:28continue to, you know, ensure
36:32that our supply chains are
36:33protected, that we localize our
36:35supply chains as much as possible,
36:37that we do our productions here,
36:40and that we are thrust towards
36:42Atmanirbharta.
36:43So everything has, there are big
36:45lessons for us.
36:45And I think we have acted on all
36:47those lessons and it is going to
36:48do us good.
36:49It will only increase the pace.
36:50Atmanirbharta that you mentioned
36:51is very important because the
36:53Defense Acquisition Council has
36:55just cleared 1,10,000 crore,
36:58you know, of, and 98% to be made in
37:01India, capital acquisition made in
37:02India.
37:03Yes.
37:03Would that help not just India,
37:05but countries in the region and
37:08with those who we have great
37:09partnership, Admiral?
37:11Absolutely, because I think it,
37:13firstly, you know, 75% of our
37:17capital out budget for
37:18modernization is reserved for
37:21Indian industry.
37:22And it is all kinds of industry,
37:24whether it is startups, MSMEs,
37:26whether it is PSU, DPSUs,
37:28private industry.
37:29That's the good news.
37:31But it opens up avenues for
37:35technological cooperation with
37:37like-minded countries.
37:39Like India, Brazil have the
37:40Scorpene submarine cooperation.
37:42Of course.
37:43And like I said, with all, all,
37:46all the BRICS countries.
37:47So it is not only A, B, C, or D.
37:49All, all the countries we have got
37:50some kind of a dialogue happening.
37:54I'm talking of the security domain,
37:56and I'm sure it is happening in
37:58the economic domain.
37:59Because finally, I think it is
38:01all about economy.
38:02It's all about economy.
38:03And therefore, economic
38:08resilience is directly related to
38:11security religions.
38:12So unless there is secure
38:14environment in and around in the
38:17region, you will always have this
38:21threat of economic, you know,
38:25throttling and downsizing of
38:28economy.
38:29I read somewhere that every dollar
38:32increase in, you know, crude oil,
38:35I think leads to almost 10,000
38:39crores worth of foreign exchange
38:45enhancement every year for us.
38:48So that is the level of, you know,
38:50effect it can have on economy if the
38:54environment is not safe.
38:56Well, that's a very important point
38:58you make.
38:58But while we talk about dosti ki shakti
39:00in BRICS, the challenges are immense.
39:03For example, the United States and
39:06with Venezuelan oil, they seem to be
39:08dominating almost one third of global
39:10oil.
39:12China seems to dominate clean energy
39:14production in terms of, you know,
39:18solar energy and wind energy.
39:20So challenges for India and global
39:22south countries remain huge,
39:25air chief marshal, Madhuriya.
39:26Yeah, those challenges are huge.
39:28But, you know, every opportunity and
39:31whatever has happened in the last year
39:32or two, I think it has given us an
39:36opportunity to think hard and address
39:37these challenges head on now, be it on
39:40solar side, be it on wind energy, be it
39:42on, you know, diversifying our energy,
39:44what I mentioned earlier.
39:45And that is the future we have to
39:46tackle.
39:47So we have to reduce our dependence of
39:49energy on the sources which can get
39:53affected in the future.
39:54And I think that's a huge change that is
39:56going to happen.
39:58You see the importance now on EVs.
40:00You see how the battery production is
40:02going to change.
40:04The importance on rare earth minerals.
40:07There's a sea change in the last one year,
40:09how we are addressing those and focusing on those.
40:12So there's a lot of change that is
40:14happening which will be very good for us in
40:17the future.
40:17So while there's been a challenge,
40:19there's been some hardship, I think for
40:22the future there's been many lessons and
40:24our own, you know, growth in that area
40:26will secure our future better.
40:28So we spoke of China, India, we spoke of
40:31BRICS and India, the cooperation.
40:34There's also Russia, India, apart from
40:37BRICS, the bilateral.
40:38Russian President Vladimir Putin is also
40:41coming here.
40:42How do you read Russia-India cooperation
40:45move forward?
40:46And of course there was this image of
40:48Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian
40:50President Vladimir Putin and the Chinese
40:52President Xi Jinping.
40:53Last year in Tianjin, this time in Bishkek,
40:55these images just absolutely went viral.
40:57How do you see this cooperation?
40:59No, I think Russia-India cooperation,
41:03our core strength provides the core
41:05strength to the BRICS also.
41:06And this relationship is very important.
41:09And you've seen globally the impact of
41:11this relationship and how far the Indian
41:13government has gone to really show to
41:18the world what is the meaning of this
41:19relationship.
41:20So for the future, I think this
41:22relationship will only grow.
41:23You know, there are many areas of growth
41:25possible, be it in technology sense, I'm
41:28not now talking of from a defense
41:30perspective, be it on, you know, really
41:33niche technologies, be it on hypersonics,
41:35be it on dietary energy, be it on materials.
41:37So there are huge areas where cooperation
41:40would change, would increase in the future.
41:43So our core strength, our core
41:44relationship with Russia is really
41:47growing and it will provide the core
41:49strength within the BRICS too.
41:51So that is the core strength even of
41:52BRICS is that also you're reading when
41:54we speak of one great example of India-Russia
41:57cooperation during Operation Sindhur.
42:00The Brahmos power is something that
42:02Pakistan now will vouch for since it was
42:05at the receiving end, but now that
42:08cooperation is way beyond defense, it's
42:10going into so many different areas, sir.
42:12I think it was always like that, you
42:14know, it, it was in strategic domain, it
42:20is, it was military domain and we, if we
42:26go back, what we have read as young kids in
42:291971, what happened.
42:30So Russia and India have always been
42:34working together, like Air Chief Marshal
42:37Vaduria said, in various fields.
42:39It's not only in the military domain, but
42:41also in many other domains, whether it is
42:44agriculture domain, whether it is science,
42:47technology, metallurgy, and that has not
42:52come down.
42:52So that, that will continue.
42:54Of course, we, we, we get a lot of energy
42:56requirements from Russia and we will
43:02continue to do so because that is our
43:04requirement.
43:04We, we need that kind of energy from
43:07wherever we get cheaper.
43:09So that, that has been articulated very
43:11clearly.
43:12You know, as we wind down in this session,
43:14we've spoken of challenges.
43:16What is the biggest opportunity for India
43:19from this BRICS summit, from all the bilateral
43:22engagements that we are having, uh, Air Chief
43:24Marshal Vaduria, the biggest opportunity?
43:26Uh, biggest opportunity if I have to, again,
43:28uh, uh, just look at the defense side, I
43:31would put it that way, uh, would be our
43:34ability to collaborate deeper with, uh,
43:38countries which collaboration already exists.
43:40That means with Russia, uh, with Brazil, uh,
43:43it, it is a work in progress.
43:45Our ability to, uh, whenever our production
43:48is increasing, to export more.
43:50And many of those countries are within the
43:52BRICS.
43:52I, I mentioned five, six of them earlier.
43:54Uh, practically every BRIC partner, huge, uh,
43:58you know, uh, opportunity there to increase
44:00our exports.
44:01And I think, uh, that is an area where you
44:03will see, uh, major changes.
44:05Again, it, it, it is a cycle which is, uh,
44:07feeding into itself and that will, uh, uh,
44:10improve and, uh, our trajectory of Atma
44:13Nirvata.
44:13So overall, the environment and the, the,
44:16the kind of production, uh, avenues that
44:19will increase, I think it will have a very
44:21imp, uh, important impact on our defense
44:23industry and our, our Atma Nirvata trajectory.
44:26So I think that is the opportunity.
44:29Because we speak of economic cooperation.
44:32We speak of diplomacy, but defense
44:34diplomacy has its own, uh, very important
44:38role and it helps breaks a lot of barriers, uh,
44:41which otherwise may exist between countries.
44:43And who better than you to tell us, naval
44:45cooperation, the Milan exercises or the
44:48Mahasagar, uh, that cooperation is almost
44:51constant.
44:52Yeah.
44:53So, uh, you know, path to peace is still
44:56passes through power and it has been, uh, you
44:59know, even now as we speak, it is being
45:03articulated, uh, it has been shown everywhere
45:05else.
45:06Uh, so that, therefore, uh, uh, like I said, this
45:09grouping is, uh, very strong, uh, geopolitically
45:12and geoeconomically, uh, we are not a military
45:14alliance, but, uh, there is, there is a huge
45:17opportunity for, uh, uh, all of us together and, uh,
45:22bilaterally to work together in the field of, uh,
45:25technology, in the field of, uh, you know, defense
45:27finance industry, uh, and, uh, find ways and
45:31means to, uh, uh, look at, uh, where we can
45:36converge and let aside what are the differences that
45:39can be sorted out, uh, separately, but where we
45:42can work together for the larger good of the
45:45group as also for the larger good of, uh, the, uh, uh,
45:49rest of the 184 countries.
45:51And, uh, I see huge opportunities in that and I
45:54don't think, uh, the group will find anybody better
45:57than India to play that, uh, role where you can
46:01bring in all of them together.
46:02You, uh, you thought, talked about Milan.
46:04We had, uh, in February of this year, uh, you know,
46:08leadership from, uh, 74 countries all coming in, in
46:12Vishakhapatnam, and they were from diverse,
46:15ideological, ideological beliefs, uh, different
46:17thought processes, but they decided that, uh, for
46:22this, they must come and break bread together.
46:24Uh, and talk things which are of, uh, common interest.
46:27And I'm sure everybody went back together, gained from
46:30that perspective.
46:31We certainly as hosts, gained from that.
46:34So similarly, I have no doubt that, uh, at a larger,
46:37higher level, uh, this grouping, uh, of, uh, you know,
46:4211, uh, like-minded, uh, countries, uh, with so much
46:46heft will certainly, uh, have many positives and, uh, we as a
46:51country, uh, will enable that.
46:53You know, that's a very important thing.
46:55You said that path to peace comes through power, comes
47:00through strength.
47:01In fact, Rashtrakavi Ramdhari Singh Dinkar articulated this
47:05so well in his poem, Shakti or Shama, Shama Shobhati
47:10Ush Bhujang Ko, Jis Ke Paas Garal Hai, Ushko Kya Jho Dantaheen
47:15Vishrahit Vineet Saral Hai.
47:18Sir, thank you very much for joining us on this India
47:20Today's special broadcast.
47:21Thank you. Thank you very much.
47:21Resilience, sustainability, cooperation, innovation.
47:25These are areas where India will focus on during the 18th BRICS summit.
47:31This is a very powerful grouping of powerful and emerging economies.
47:36Of course, the world is going through tremendous challenges right now.
47:40There is the Russia-Ukraine war started in February 2022 and still going on.
47:46In fact, worsening at times, and this impacts not just oil, but also fertilizers.
47:51Then, of course, the war between the United States and Iran,
47:55the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz at Red Sea,
47:58global choke points are impacted, global trade, global energy supplies,
48:03all of this adversely impacted.
48:05But what's the way forward?
48:08Can there be cooperation in these very difficult times?
48:12And that is an area which will be explored very extensively.
48:17Bilateral cooperation, of course, is very solid between India and multiple BRICS partners.
48:23But here, the focus is on moving towards multilateralism.
48:29Not one power center, but multiple powerful countries and the global south countries
48:35moving together to be a voice and a power to reckon with.
48:40We'll get you more in this report.
48:43BRICS is no longer just a diplomatic grouping.
48:47It is emerging as a key platform for the global south in a shifting world order.
48:55India hosts the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12th and 13th.
49:00The theme, building for resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
49:07Four pillars, one larger goal, a stronger global south, better equipped to withstand global shocks
49:14and have a greater say in shaping the world order.
49:20As Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the SCO Summit in Bishkek,
49:25the global south bears the brunt when conflicts erupt elsewhere.
49:28His message, conflicts cannot be resolved on the battlefield, but through dialogue and diplomacy.
49:38And this is where India's BRICS agenda meets its global south pitch.
49:43For decades, global institutions have reflected the priorities of established powers.
49:49The global south now wants a greater voice and BRICS is increasingly becoming one of the forums
49:56through which that demand is being articulated.
50:01Even Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking exclusively to India today in December 2025,
50:07pointed to the rise of new centres of power in global south,
50:12highlighting South Asia, India and Indonesia as engines of rapid development.
50:20But the fact remains the fact.
50:23New centres of development, rapid development, strong development are happening.
50:30They are forming in the global south in particular, I refer to South Asia.
50:36India and not just India, but also Indonesia is on the ascendancy.
50:44I think it's almost 300 million people, not one and a half billion as in India,
50:50but still this is a rapidly developing country.
50:53The same goes for Africa, which is developing rapidly and this development is going to pick up.
50:59At India Today BRICS roundtable, former G20 Sherpa Amitabh Khan underlined the importance of the global south
51:08and the opportunities this emerging bloc represents.
51:14It's important to ensure that firstly, this group doesn't take any anti-west stance.
51:24Number one, number two, the group as it has been expanded also comprises of six additional members,
51:33amongst whom are Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE, which are on two differing sides, opposite sides of the conflict in
51:43West Asia.
51:44So to be able to arrive at a consensus and to be able to draft out a resolution which brings
51:50everybody on board
51:52is, to my mind, achievable, but very challenging.
51:58South Africa too sees the global south as central to the BRICS project,
52:03a push for more inclusive partnership and greater representation in global governance.
52:10In terms of steering the G20 during a very difficult period,
52:15when you had the Russia-Ukraine conflict, you had the Gaza situation,
52:18and yet countries of the global south were able to deliver a substantive G20,
52:25including India's presidency of the G20 in 2023.
52:29So I think that's the first most powerful statement,
52:32just the visual impact of the leaders converging here
52:36to come together and discuss global issues.
52:41So India's BRICS presidency is not simply about hosting another summit.
52:46It is about testing whether BRICS can deliver what the global south has long demanded,
52:53access, resilience, development and a greater voice.
53:00Because the question is no longer whether the global south matters.
53:04The question is whether the emerging world order can afford to ignore it.
53:10Bureau Report, India Today.
53:13Thank you very much for joining me.
53:16We'll watch these developments very closely.
53:18But for the moment, many thanks.
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