- 12 minutes ago
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
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00:00Good evening, you're watching India Today. I'm Preeti Chaudhary.
00:03We continue to get you the latest highlights coming in from the BRICS summit.
00:07News coming in that Prime Minister Modi and Iranian President Pazeshkian's bilateral meeting has begun just a short while ago.
00:16This is the second Modi Pazeshkian meet in two weeks.
00:20West Asia tensions to dominate bilateral talks.
00:23This would be, I would reckon, in eight years, the first time the Iranian President is visiting India.
00:31We're going to take you through on what all is on priority, where India and Iran is concerned.
00:38The Iranian President Pazeshkian and Prime Minister Modi's bilateral meeting has just about begun.
00:44That's the news coming in from the 18th BRICS summit.
00:48It comes in also at a point of time, viewers, where the Prime Minister has already had a bilateral with
00:53Russia
00:53and is going to be meeting Xi Jinping from China tomorrow.
00:59And in the midst of it, the kind of messaging that is coming in from certain countries like Russia
01:03and President Pazeshkian also addressed the BRICS summit right before the bilateral.
01:08Seemingly an anti-West thought.
01:10How deep does that run and how does India maneuver and walk the tightrope diplomacy line?
01:17On that, let's bring in our panelists this evening.
01:19I have with me Sandeep Unathan with me in the studio, senior journalist.
01:26Also joining me is Mr. Raj Jengappa, Group Editorial Director, India Today Group.
01:31I want to first cut across to Sandeep.
01:34Let's quickly dive into it.
01:37You've had President Putin speak.
01:40You've had even President Pazeshkian address the BRICS.
01:42And now the bilateral comes in.
01:44India's priorities would be very, very clear where protecting trade and energy is concerned,
01:50especially at a time where it wants to protect its interests where Iran is concerned and not really upset America.
01:58Well, absolutely, Preeti.
02:00You know, the fact is that the larger message that Prime Minister Modi has been making for the last four
02:05years
02:05is that now is not the time for war.
02:08But, you know, even as he said that, the world is seeing unprecedented conflict in the last couple of years.
02:14You're looking at parallel conflict theaters in the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the United States.
02:20Another theater has opened up in the Bab el-Mandab with the Houthis capturing territory there.
02:24And, of course, Israel and its war with Hezbollah continues.
02:30And at this time, this very critical juncture is when India needs peace and stability.
02:35You're looking at Iran.
02:36We're trying to navigate this conflict, try and look for, you know, a larger share of, you know,
02:44looking at a partnership beyond just the immediate conflict with countries like Russia,
02:50with countries like Iran, which are involved in that conflict, you know, right now, Preeti.
02:55And, you know, the biggest takeaway actually is that many years ago, about three years back,
03:01it sounds like a long time, the G20 summit, one of the biggest takeaways was that IMEK corridor
03:07that Prime Minister Modi proposed, that India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor.
03:12Now, it's unfortunate that the events of the last three years, you've seen unprecedented conflict.
03:17And today, two of the routes that India really depends on for connectivity and trade,
03:22the international north-south transport corridor from Iran to Russia is, that's embroiled in conflict.
03:29And, of course, IMEK as well.
03:31But despite that, Preeti, you know, the commendable part is that India has borne the brunt of these global headwinds
03:38to conflict, COVID, border deployments, all of that.
03:43And the economy is 7.8%.
03:45It's the fastest growing major economy in the world still.
03:49Well, that was something that was reinstated on the BRICS platform today,
03:53that 40% of the world's GDP comes in from the BRICS countries.
03:57But I want to bring in Raj Chengappa into this conversation.
04:00And, Raj, for a moment, if we just focus on the images that are coming in,
04:03you have Prime Minister Modi with the Iranian President Pezheshkian in a tight, you know,
04:08holding hands right before they got into a bilateral.
04:12You also have President Putin.
04:13You have the South African president.
04:15But I want to come, you know, Raj, get you in where the bilateral is concerned with Iran right now.
04:21Because for India, there will be priority, which was that energy routes are open,
04:27trade, protecting trade with Iran.
04:29And that in the backdrop of not really upsetting the U.S.,
04:33especially safeguarding the Chabhar project as well.
04:37You know, Preeti, I think this is not only a test for India and Iran relations,
04:41but also a test for the BRICS, because the conflict in the Hormuz Strait is one of the biggest disruptions
04:49that have happened in terms of energy.
04:51Of course, on the other side, you have images of Russian President Putin and Prime Minister Modi
04:56shaking hands and hugging.
04:58And that's a separate issue.
04:59But just looking at the fact that one of the big things this BRIC summit has to sort out is
05:06its ability.
05:08When they have all these conflicting partners in, you know, when I say partners to the BRICS,
05:15but conflicting among themselves, you have Saudi Arabia and UAE, and you have Iran on one side.
05:22They are at great conflict.
05:23What can India do and BRICS do to bridge, in some senses, some of the differences that are there
05:29and at least assure a couple of things?
05:32One is, of course, the supply chain disruption that we are seeing right across Hormuz.
05:36It's not necessarily Iran or Saudi Arabia can do it, but they can act as pressure groups,
05:41Iran and UAE to the U.S., and Russia, China and India towards Iran to come out to something of
05:47this kind,
05:48and ensure that the kind of disruptions that have happened in terms of energy begins to ease off a bit.
05:55We are already seeing the dollar to the barrel price going to $100, which is very, very high for India.
06:01And again, we will face the same sort of problems as there.
06:04So I think that's the other, the big test right now is that.
06:07The second thing I would like to say, because you had mentioned,
06:10and Prime Minister Modi had also mentioned the fact that BRICS gathering,
06:14especially in the partnership era, if you count the 11, you know, members,
06:20as well as the 10 partnership members, that's 21 countries, 40% of the GDP, as you put it,
06:26and 50% of the world's population.
06:28It has a lot of collective heft.
06:31Now we need to see whether it can demonstrate it in terms of, you know, carrying that weight
06:36and sorting out some of the big issues of the globe, whether it is the weaponization that we are seeing
06:42of energy
06:43and whether we're looking at conflicts across.
06:47And I think more, let's say more practical things, how much economically can we trade with each other?
06:54What is intra-BRICS trade?
06:56What can we do with the new development bank that has been set up?
07:00And, of course, I think one of the big things that we need to watch out for is,
07:05while we claim to be a multipolar, BRICS claims to be a multipolar forum,
07:09is it increasingly being dominated by China?
07:12And therefore, that is one of the big worries that India has to sort out.
07:15When tomorrow, President Xi comes in town, we need to look at that aspect as well.
07:19Well, you're right there, and we're hosting Xi Jinping tomorrow.
07:22I want to quickly cut across, you know, to the Bharat Mandapam,
07:25where my colleague, Senior Managing Editor, Gaurav Savant, has been reporting.
07:29Gaurav, you know, where it comes down to the broader geopolitical messaging
07:33that is coming out from the BRICS summit.
07:36Do we have Gaurav with us?
07:37Okay, we do.
07:38Yeah.
07:38So the larger geopolitical messaging, Gaurav, that is, all right.
07:42The latest visuals are coming in right now, of course,
07:46that is Prime Minister Modi meeting the Iranian delegation,
07:50along with President Pezheshkian.
07:52A bilateral has taken place.
07:54We continue to get you the latest that is coming in from that bilateral.
07:58But Gaurav, what we are speaking of, the broader geopolitical messaging coming in.
08:02And it seems, at least, we've had Russia take seemingly a strong stand against the West.
08:10You had President Pezheshkian, who, before he came down, did say,
08:15argued that BRICS' new development bank was creating to reduce countries' dependence on the dollar,
08:21and what he sees as the U.S. effort now to dominate the global finance space.
08:26He also doubled down in his address at the BRICS right before the bilateral as well.
08:31So there is clearly a theme that is emerging as the broader geopolitical messaging coming in from the 18th BRICS
08:38summit.
08:40Well, there indeed is, since the United States is central to conflicts that are taking place with several BRICS member
08:47states.
08:48The United States is directly involved with the war in Iran.
08:53They've been bombing each other in the past six, seven months.
08:56And when it comes to Russia, well, U.S. for years now has been arming Ukraine.
09:02Of course, under the current president, that may have gone down a bit, and especially on the air defense system.
09:06But America's partners in Europe, they continue to arm Ukraine,
09:10including, as we speak, with Patriot Missile Defense Systems to take on Russia.
09:15So there will be, you know, an equal and opposite reaction, even though we don't see an equal and opposite
09:20reaction,
09:21we do see rising anger against the United States of America.
09:26There is no denying that fact.
09:27But India, that is why it plays a very critical role, because India is not anti-America.
09:33India is perhaps America's best bet in an organization like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,
09:40and also in a grouping like BRICS, because India is a democracy.
09:45India is very well engaged with the United States of America.
09:48So while there's a BRICS summit happening right now in Delhi,
09:51what leaders, you know, at the level of their forces,
09:56India, Japan are carrying out an exercise.
09:59India, U.S. is carrying out a Yudha Bhyas.
10:01So there is military engagement.
10:03There's no military engagement there.
10:04There is military engagement that is going on on the other front.
10:07And then subsequently, what is again a relationship that has been moved, that has been taken forward.
10:12And that is why, when you look at these images,
10:15India is in the best position to try and find a road forward for peace,
10:20should all stakeholders want India to play a role.
10:23That's a point that India has made.
10:25Right from the times of Shantirukh, Shri Krishna, to the modern times,
10:29India has played the role of a peacemaker.
10:32Primarily, Marendra Modi has traveled to Russia.
10:34He's traveled to Ukraine.
10:35He's engaged with the leadership of Iran.
10:37He's engaged with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates.
10:40And he's remained engaged with the U.S. leadership.
10:42Now it remains to be seen whether the principles want peace.
10:45And if they do, then there is possibility of facilitation.
10:48If they want to extend it, whether it's in Strait of Hormuz or then take it to Bab al-Mandab,
10:53there's pressure, you know, precious little India can do,
10:56except take countermeasures for a resident Indian economy, we think.
11:00Well, good points made there, you know, Gaurav.
11:02While we've got a rise trained on the bilateral that is taking place between India and Iran,
11:06and what are the finer points that will emerge soon,
11:09where it comes down to protecting trade, energy routes,
11:12also on safeguarding the Chahabahar project without inviting,
11:17as Gaurav was also saying there, ire of the United States of America.
11:20We're going to keep a keen eye on all the developments coming in from this particular bilateral.
11:26But for a moment, viewers, as we continue to report on the India-Iran bilateral,
11:31let's just hark back on what happened just about an hour and a half ago,
11:34where you've had, in two weeks, the Prime Minister of India meet the President of Russia,
11:39the second time over.
11:40The last time it was at the SEO summit, the 26th SEO summit,
11:45and this time around today at the 18th BRICS summit.
11:50And it's interesting when you look at the finer points of that bilateral,
11:54and I want to bring in back some of our guests.
11:55I believe Professor Anuradha Chinoy is also with us,
11:58adjunct professor, Jindal Global University, retired professor, SIS and JNU.
12:04Professor Anuradha, at one, you know, two aspects.
12:07The larger geopolitical message, at least for now, coming out of the BRICS summit,
12:11seemingly anti-West.
12:13India needs to walk a tightrope here, you know, where we are not Western,
12:17but we have never been anti-West.
12:18It's on one point that.
12:20The second, if you reflect on the meeting and the bilateral between Russia and India,
12:25if you look at the readout, it's interesting because the mention of defense,
12:29you know, only gets a passing mention in the Indian readout without any detail.
12:34Should we, nevertheless, expect movement on the defense front?
12:37And what's interesting is that no mention of Ukraine at all in the Indian readout.
12:43And it was there where the, you know, the Modi-Putin SCO readout in September 2025,
12:47but not this time at the BRICS summit.
12:51OK, so I want to make four points.
12:53Number one, you were talking about Iran.
12:55The fact is that this is a unilateral aggression on Iran by the US and Israel.
13:01So it's not, you know, of course, Iran has had to hit back and fight back,
13:06and they've done so very effectively.
13:08And as a consequence, the Strait of Hormuz is closed.
13:11And there's not been any clear indication when it will open,
13:15because there is no clear point of agreement,
13:18because the United States wants to control Hormuz.
13:22Israel wants to destroy Iran.
13:24And Iran, for them, it's an existential point.
13:26So as far as Iran.
13:27Second, as far as the BRICS is concerned, it is not anti-Western.
13:32All of them are engaged in conversation with the West.
13:36China, Xi Jinping is going to have the biggest meeting with Trump in a few weeks.
13:41So it's not, and they repeatedly say that, yes, it's against dominance.
13:46And they want their voice of the global South,
13:49of the emerging countries to be heard in all forums.
13:52And that's why they were formed.
13:53And increasingly, it's become a trade organization.
13:57So this, you know, this myth that it's anti-Western de-dollarization is not correct.
14:01It does.
14:02It is, you know, a fallback option.
14:05It is for strategic autonomy of all countries,
14:08so that they have a, you know, a default option, as it were.
14:13So that's what BRICS is about.
14:16And that is why it is important.
14:18Third, about the issue of Russia and India.
14:21Look, in February 25, when Mr. Putin and Mr. Lavrov came,
14:28there were very clear already signatures on defense deals.
14:33There was India's ordering S-400s anti-missile defense.
14:39They do want, you know, some of the new aircraft.
14:45But every time, they've met three times,
14:47every time they can't keep signing things on defense.
14:49What has been signed has to come out and be, it's a process.
14:54And that process between India and Russia on energy security and defense, etc., continues.
15:01So, you know, as far as Ukraine is concerned, yes, at the SCO conference,
15:07I think Prime Minister Modi said very clearly and quite well that this endless war should be about now negotiations.
15:14But I think we should be very clear that there has to be negotiations from both sides.
15:22There are clear red lines from Russia.
15:25They don't want Ukraine to be part of NATO.
15:28They can be part of European Union, but not NATO.
15:30They need a neutral Ukraine because they can't have NATO missiles, you know,
15:35five minutes away from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
15:38So that's one.
15:39Second, they cannot give back the Donbass and the two other oblasts
15:44because those were Russian-speaking, Russian-culturally,
15:48and they were being, you know, pushed by Ukraine nationalists into a supremacist Ukrainian provinces.
15:56So there was a civil war in which Russia intervened.
16:00They have taken, Crimea is theirs, it's strategically important.
16:03And now they have, you know, got all the area around the Black Sea
16:09because that is of strategic importance.
16:12So there are a lot of issues and you cannot just have a ceasefire
16:16so you allow Ukraine and this proxy war and the West to rearm and attack Russia again.
16:22So they will either look for an end to the conflict on the battlefield.
16:27They don't want a frozen conflict for rearmament and that's what ceasefire will mean.
16:32But we're right, we should have a peace, there should be peaceful negotiations,
16:36but I can't see any give from the West at the moment.
16:39No mention, Sandeep, would you want to weigh in on this?
16:41No mention of Ukraine where the readout of the bilateral between India and Russia is concerned.
16:47But there is subtle messaging of non-violence and peace and that could pretty much be
16:52the present that India gave to President Putin in the form of Thirukal,
16:58the classic Tamil literature of, you know, sacred couplets,
17:02which primarily seems to suggest the path of non-violence and peace,
17:07something that was quoted by Russian author Leo Tolstoy as well.
17:11You know, Preeti, this is a message that Prime Minister Modi has been conveying
17:15to his Russian counterpart for the last four years.
17:18I mean, he started by saying that in September of 2022,
17:21when he said now is not the time for war.
17:24And the reasons for that are very clear, because in the last four years,
17:28India has been, you know, bearing the brunt of this conflict that's at our doorstep, literally,
17:34because you're looking at Indian seafarers, for instance.
17:37That's the clearest example of how that war has come to our doorstep.
17:40Three lakh Indian seafarers, they make up more than 12% of global merchant shipping
17:45and they are being targeted increasingly, not deliberately,
17:48but because they are, they make up such a large number of the global merchant maritime fleets
17:52in the Black Sea, in the Strait of Hormuz.
17:55They're being targeted and, you know, that is one of the reasons
17:58that Prime Minister Modi has made mention of that in his speech.
18:01So, for India, Preeti, we need peace, we need progress,
18:05we need stability for us to keep growing at 7.8%.
18:08So, when the Prime Minister says that, you know, now is not the time for war,
18:12he actually means that we need peace to grow at 7.8%.
18:17But the thing between Russia and Ukraine, Preeti,
18:21there is an aspect of that where India does not want that Russia-Ukraine war to continue,
18:26because what we have seen over the last four years
18:28is that Russia has drawn closer into the Chinese orbit.
18:31This is not something the Russians are very happy with either.
18:34We would not want to have, you know, a partnership between China and Russia,
18:39where Russia is literally subservient to Chinese interests.
18:43That would not be in our best interest.
18:45So, therefore, it is of prime importance for India to have all of these conflicts,
18:49you know, come to a quick resolution.
18:52Russia-Ukraine, of course, is the prime example.
18:55And the Iran-U.S. conflict at our doorstep in the Strait of Hormuz,
18:58every one dollar increase in oil prices, Preeti,
19:02that adds over a billion dollars to our, you know, Forex outgo.
19:07We have to spend more money to import that energy that comes out of, you know,
19:12Strait of Hormuz and other parts of the world as well, Preeti.
19:15You know, Raj, you also pointed out, and Sandeep also said that, you know,
19:18one needs to be a little bit wary of the growing proximity of China and Russia.
19:23You also pointed out the dominance of China that India needs to watch very closely,
19:27and that is what BRICS has been.
19:28You know, to weigh in on that, especially on the issue of the WAICO,
19:34which is China's new intergovernmental AI governance organization.
19:39Now, we will meet, India will have a bilateral with China tomorrow
19:43with President Xi in India.
19:45But the larger question, in this particular, you've had Pakistan,
19:49that is a part of it.
19:50You have Russia, that is in.
19:52Every BRICS founding member is in except India.
19:54Do you think this is a wise choice?
19:57You know, I mean, this is, of course, a little technical when you get down to it,
20:00but let's deal with the China-India context,
20:03because that's going to be very, very important,
20:05as we see tomorrow when President Xi Jinping comes in.
20:08And apart from the issue that you mentioned,
20:10let's take a look at three or four issues that we are very, very interested in.
20:14After all, post-Galwan, if you remember the entire East-Ladhak conflict that happened,
20:20India-China relations went back, by many experts say, 10 steps.
20:25So far, since then, there's been maybe three to four steps being taken.
20:30But now we need to watch where there was a very interesting development
20:33that happened with Mr. Doval going across and meeting his counterpart in China
20:39and the eight-point program, which included a very interesting formulation,
20:43which has some consternation in India of an early harvest in terms of the border dispute.
20:49That's a very, very important thing.
20:50We need to see the contours of that and whether any of that will be discussed
20:53when the two leaders meet tomorrow, Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi.
20:57The second aspect that has always bothered us is the huge trade deficit that is there,
21:02that we have with China. China has this great advantage,
21:05exactly much more than, say, the US is complaining about India
21:09and we need to look at that aspect of it when tomorrow we deal with it.
21:12Of course, the other thing is, if there's going to be a thaw in the India-China relations,
21:18part of it is going to be on the economic front.
21:21As much as we'd like China to buy more goods from us,
21:24we also require investments from China in certain sectors.
21:27And so the government has, in fact, in the recent past, eased some of those things.
21:32So we need to watch that as well.
21:34And then the interplay that you're talking about, Pakistan on one side,
21:37in fact, Pakistan is knocking at the BRICS door in some senses.
21:41The debate of whether we should be admitting more partners,
21:44we're already becoming, BRICS is already becoming unwieldy
21:47and we have to see tomorrow whether they will reach a consensus
21:50on all these big issues that we talked about.
21:53Sandeep mentioned Ukraine and Russia.
21:55There was the talk of the Hormuz Strait and conflict on that front,
21:58the entire approach towards the West,
22:01the fact that you mentioned that we should not be anti-West.
22:04We might not be a Western sort of dispensation in any form in the BRICS,
22:11but that doesn't mean we should be confrontationists
22:13because India's stakes with America and the rest of the West
22:16is very, very critical, both in terms of technology, investments, development.
22:20So we need to keep our options completely open.
22:23We, I think India plays the role in BRICS as a bridge nation.
22:27Our ability to get all these people together and very useful.
22:31We may not have great breakthroughs even with China,
22:33but the fact that we can get Russia, China, you know,
22:37the key combatants in the Middle East,
22:41all of them together to discuss some of these big issues,
22:44particularly energy, which we all, as Sandeep and others have pointed out,
22:48facing, we need to sort that out quickly.
22:50The other issues in terms of de-dollarization,
22:52in terms of the fact that you, you know,
22:55we are better off doing it in local currencies,
22:58better off in making our own arrangements like UPI,
23:01which India, I saw Prime Minister Modi do that at the BRICS forum,
23:04business forum, where he talked of UPI.
23:07That's something we need to look at, taking UPI global,
23:10because what a tremendous example.
23:12We make the 50% of the world's payments in super speed,
23:15as we have all experienced.
23:17Why not the rest of the global south that we can transform?
23:20So these are some of the big issues we need to push forward in the next day,
23:24when finally we reach some sort of consensus on BRICS
23:27and what it comes out with in its statements.
23:29You know, before I cut across to our next guest,
23:31I just want to get our viewers up to speed
23:33on how things are panning out at the BRICS summit
23:35at the Bharat Mandapam as we speak.
23:37There's a bilateral which is on between India and Iran.
23:41President Modi is meeting the Iranian President Peskashian as I speak,
23:47and we'll continue to get you the latest coming in from there.
23:50That happens, viewers, an hour after there was a bilateral
23:53between India and Russia,
23:55and all of this comes in the wake of a bilateral between India and China
24:01that will take place tomorrow.
24:02I want to just quickly welcome Maxim Kuznetsov,
24:05Chairman of Russia Asia Business Council Russia.
24:09Maxim, thank you for joining us.
24:11I was just going through, Maxim,
24:13the readout after India and Russia's bilateral.
24:17The word defense only finds a passing mention.
24:20When you read it in the backdrop of the Su-57
24:23and Russia's proposal to sell India the Su-57
24:27and jointly produce it here,
24:29how do you read that?
24:31Because the note and the readout,
24:35the word defense only mentioned in passing details
24:38without any details at all of any trade where defense is concerned.
24:44So Russia and India has different spheres for bilateral cooperation,
24:51including north-south trade road,
24:54including historically developed cooperation in defense field,
25:01including energy partnership in case of almost stride problems.
25:07It is a factor of stabilization of Indian internal energy market.
25:15And right now, as we know,
25:18Russian-Indian bilateral trade grows,
25:23return to growth after decline in first quarter of this year.
25:27In the second year, it continues to grow.
25:33All right, but, you know, Maxim, you speak about trade,
25:35and you are right that there's been a 50% increase in India and Russia trade,
25:39which is heartening to note,
25:40but there's been a bit of a deficit where exports in India is concerned.
25:43So that would be something that India would like to rectify and speak of,
25:48especially during the bilateral trade.
25:51So in case of bilateral trade,
25:54Russia imports chemical products of Indian chemical products.
25:59Russia imports Indian leather and other products used for fashion industry, etc.
26:15And, as you know, Russian companies have rupees excess,
26:27and they invest in some Indian projects, too.
26:31Okay.
26:32You know, Sandeep, would you want to come in on this?
26:34Because, of course, India would look at,
26:36especially in this bilateral,
26:37to, you know, bridge in the gap and the deficit of exports
26:42from India's side to Russia,
26:45despite there being a 50% increase in trade between the two countries.
26:49But where defense is concerned, Sandeep,
26:51what's your reading of it?
26:52A passing mention, no details,
26:54especially in the backdrop of the Su-57 deal.
26:57Well, Preeti, you know,
26:58the India-Russia defense relationship
27:00is one of the most robust relationships of its kind
27:04that India has with any country in the world,
27:06because the kind of technology,
27:08the kind of platforms that Russia offers us,
27:10it does not offer anyone else.
27:12And a small example is the BrahMos missile,
27:14which, that is something that President Putin oversaw personally,
27:18the transfer of that technology,
27:20the joint production and all of that.
27:21That is a platform that Russia has not given China.
27:26You know, that is the, you know,
27:28level of, you know,
27:30trust that the Russians have for India.
27:33Now, the Russian-India relationship
27:36has changed over the years.
27:37At one point, Russia accounted for more than 60% of all Indian arms buys.
27:43India continues to be a large arms importer,
27:45even as we are manufacturing our own weapons.
27:49The Russia-India trade has come down to about 30-35%,
27:54but it's qualitatively higher than that,
27:56that we see with any other country.
27:58And, you know, examples are the S-400 air defense missile systems.
28:02You have a license production line for the AK-203 rifles,
28:08which is going to be the standard Indian soldier's, you know, rifle.
28:12That's a Russian weapon, of course.
28:14There are a couple of other deals.
28:16There is a nuclear submarine that we are getting on lease from them.
28:19That's a very unique relationship again.
28:21So, there are many things that possibly don't need to be stated
28:24because there is such a deep level of comfort
28:27between the two countries
28:28when it comes to the defense relationship.
28:30And we just had, you know, a bilateral with them
28:34a couple of months back
28:35where all of these issues were discussed.
28:36So, it's quite possible that they didn't want to,
28:39you know, repeat themselves.
28:41Su-57 remains on the table,
28:43as does the S-400 and even the S-500.
28:46So, it's about India making its choices.
28:49Do we actually want to buy all of those
28:50or do we want to diversify?
28:52Do we want to, you know, build our own defense equipment
28:57as is the government's stated policy
28:59under Ratmanitbar Bharat Preeti?
29:01You know, just allow me to welcome Ambassador Anil Trigunyat,
29:05former diplomat.
29:06Welcome to the show, sir.
29:08And, you know, we're talking about the bilateral
29:10between India and Russia
29:11while we keep our eyes straight on the bilateral
29:13between India and Iran that is taking place right now.
29:15The question I'd like to ask you,
29:17if you look at, you know, the readout,
29:19it also says that Russian-Indian relations have,
29:22and in quotes,
29:23shown resilience in the backdrop
29:25of geopolitical uncertainties.
29:28Would we be reading too much
29:30if we look at it as possible messaging
29:33to the United States of America
29:35because repeatedly we've had President Trump
29:37urging India to scale down its relations with Russia?
29:42Well, I think the proof of pudding is in eating.
29:45And the India-Russia relations
29:47has withstood the test of time.
29:49Even our Prime Minister has mentioned many times
29:52that it is a time-tested relationship.
29:54It is a special and privileged strategic partnership
29:57in which both the leaders are fully committed.
29:59And that is that despite the United States sanctions,
30:02despite the kind of adversity
30:05that we faced from the U.S. administration
30:07and the Western countries,
30:09India continued to serve its own national interests.
30:12And the national interest lies in
30:15assuring your energy security.
30:17That is what something that bothered
30:19the European and the American,
30:22European countries,
30:23as well as the United States.
30:24And that's where India has not blinked as yet.
30:27And I don't think it's going to blink
30:29because today the situation
30:31in the Middle East is so bad
30:33that it is very difficult
30:34to count anything from there.
30:36So therefore,
30:37it is absolutely an imperative
30:38for us to continue to do that.
30:40So that's why the resilience
30:41in the relationship
30:42is also driven by trust
30:44between the two countries.
30:45And they have a strategy to that.
30:47Now, recently,
30:48it's not only that
30:49we are buying from the Russians,
30:51but we are also supplying it
30:53to the Russians
30:53when they had several attacks
30:55on their refineries.
30:57India is the one
30:57which is supplying them
30:58petroleum products,
30:59refined petroleum products.
31:00So this is,
31:02and there is a talk given
31:03to import back
31:05the BrahMoth missiles
31:07into Russia.
31:08So there are,
31:09this is a two-way street.
31:10It is not a one-way street
31:11and this is something
31:12that our friends
31:12in the West don't understand.
31:15All right.
31:15I just want to quickly dip in
31:16to the latest news break
31:17that is coming in.
31:18The Modi-Pazeshkian
31:20bilateral meeting
31:21has ended
31:22just a short while ago.
31:23We're going to try
31:24and get in all the details
31:25that are filtering in
31:26from that bilateral.
31:28Viewers,
31:28the meeting of course
31:30takes place
31:31at a time
31:32where
31:34the tensions
31:35between Iran,
31:37Israel and the US
31:38are threatening
31:39to become
31:40a wider regional
31:41confrontation.
31:43India on its own
31:44in terms of priorities
31:45for India
31:46would be to safeguard
31:47its interest
31:48keeping channels open
31:50with Iran
31:51especially where
31:52trade and energy
31:54is concerned
31:55and also
31:56the Chahabal project.
31:57We're going to continue
31:58to get our viewers more.
31:59All right.
31:59There's more news
32:00coming in on that.
32:01On the bilateral
32:02that's just ended
32:03between Prime Minister Modi
32:04and Iranian President
32:06Kazeshkian.
32:07The bilateral meeting
32:08has ended.
32:09It lasted about 30 seconds
32:11or 30 minutes.
32:12I beg your pardon.
32:13Let's quickly
32:14get in our guests
32:16to weigh in
32:18on Raj.
32:19Would you want to come in?
32:20Because
32:20we've spoken
32:22where at least
32:23India's priority
32:24would be
32:24at this juncture
32:25to safeguard
32:26its interest
32:27especially
32:28where trade
32:29where energy
32:30is concerned.
32:31You have
32:31the Chahabal project
32:32safeguard that
32:34but do it
32:35all in totality
32:36where you don't
32:36really upset
32:37the United States
32:38of America.
32:40Very difficult act.
32:42A bit of an oxymoron there.
32:44A very very difficult act
32:46but look
32:46I don't know
32:47the outcome
32:48of the reading
32:48of this particular meeting
32:49between the President.
32:51We're just going to get
32:52in details
32:52of what trading has come in.
32:53Essentially I would think
32:54it would centre
32:55around three or four
32:56major things
32:56and I think you mentioned
32:57some of them.
32:58One of course
32:58is the freedom
32:59and let's put it
33:01the freedom and safety
33:02of navigation
33:02in the Hormuz Strait
33:04which we are highly
33:05dependent on.
33:06And then what
33:07Sandeep Unitan
33:08had mentioned earlier
33:09about the safety
33:10of our ships
33:11and seafarers
33:12in that place.
33:14Chabahar port
33:14is the other thing
33:15but that has been
33:16a non-starter
33:17for a while
33:17but certainly
33:18we'd like to preserve
33:18our investments
33:19that we've made
33:20on that front.
33:21And then overall
33:22I think what we need
33:23to do
33:24trade of course
33:24has been disrupted
33:26considerably
33:26so in terms of
33:28talk of that
33:28we also need to see
33:29how we can do business
33:30because America
33:31has put a lot of sanctions
33:32so difficult to do that.
33:34But I think
33:35where we really
33:36have to work on
33:36is how do we get
33:38these
33:39you know
33:39we have got
33:40the Middle East
33:41partners out there
33:42Saudi Arabia
33:43UAE
33:43they are very influential
33:44when it comes to
33:45dealing with America
33:46and others.
33:47How do we get
33:48to bridge this
33:49whole conflict
33:50that is going on
33:50and bring some
33:51sort of
33:52understanding
33:53at least
33:54you know
33:54we had a
33:55memorandum
33:55of understanding
33:56between US
33:56and Iran
33:57it broke down
33:57for various reasons
33:58can we rebuild
33:59that structure
34:00and we've got
34:00China sitting in
34:01China is going
34:02to be
34:03you know
34:03meeting
34:05President Trump
34:06very soon
34:07by the end
34:07of the month
34:08or at least
34:08September 24th
34:09as it's being
34:10talked about
34:11can we bring
34:12about
34:13a kind of
34:13a meeting
34:14of minds
34:15in this
34:15I think
34:15that's what
34:16BRICS is all
34:16about
34:17to expect
34:17too much
34:18out of it
34:18so it's just
34:19coincidental
34:19that we're
34:20having the
34:20bilateral
34:21with Iran
34:22on this
34:22but this
34:22is a great
34:23time to
34:23leverage
34:24both of
34:24them
34:24for India
34:25to get
34:26them to
34:27talk to
34:27each other
34:27and then
34:28maybe she
34:28can have
34:29a message
34:29to Trump
34:30whether he
34:30listens or
34:30not
34:31is a different
34:31matter
34:31but this
34:32is what
34:32the consensus
34:33is about
34:34is about
34:34we need to
34:35move towards
34:35freeing up
34:36the entire
34:37space
34:37that Hormuz
34:38is there
34:39we need
34:39to bring
34:39conflict
34:40to an
34:40end
34:40the world
34:41cannot
34:41continue
34:41with these
34:42high prices
34:42that's there
34:43that's being
34:43imposed
34:44and everybody
34:45else is facing
34:45the kind
34:46of the ill
34:48effects of
34:49the conflicts
34:49not just in
34:50Hormuz
34:50but also in
34:51Ukraine and
34:52Russia
34:52Professor Chainoy
34:53what would be
34:54India looking
34:55at to take
34:55away in terms
34:56of you know
34:57tangible byproducts
34:59of this bilateral
35:00to safeguard
35:00its interests
35:01because seemingly
35:02the geopolitical
35:04messaging that
35:05Iran wants
35:05to send
35:06and it's
35:07been pushing
35:07forth right
35:08of statements
35:10that President
35:10Pezheshkian made
35:11before he came
35:12to BRICS
35:13and even
35:13on the dais
35:14this afternoon
35:16well clearly
35:17you see India
35:18has a lot of
35:18has put in a lot
35:19of money
35:20onto the
35:20Chabahar port
35:21on the
35:22insteg corridor
35:23and both of them
35:24are stuck on
35:25account of
35:25this war
35:26so you know
35:29and the
35:30Strait of Hormuz
35:31being kind of
35:31semi-closed
35:32and a war
35:33going on
35:33over there
35:34so I think
35:34the best thing
35:35would be
35:36for BRICS
35:37as a whole
35:38to put pressure
35:39on the US
35:41because they
35:42are the deciding
35:42factor
35:43on coming
35:44to a very
35:45quick and
35:45negotiated
35:46settlement
35:47on
35:49for Iran
35:50for the benefit
35:51of global
35:52energy security
35:53financial security
35:54fertilizers
35:55so all three
35:56things
35:57fuel
35:57finance
35:58and
35:59fertilizers
36:00depend
36:01on
36:01this
36:02Strait
36:02at the
36:04same
36:04time
36:05Iran
36:06has a
36:07point
36:07they
36:07cannot
36:08give
36:08the
36:08Strait
36:08away
36:09to
36:09the
36:09US
36:10which
36:10Trump
36:11has been
36:11demanding
36:12that
36:12so they
36:14have to
36:14have an
36:14interest
36:15and
36:15they have
36:16to see
36:17how
36:19this
36:19Strait
36:20can
36:21reopen
36:22and a
36:23peaceful
36:23solution
36:24come to
36:25it
36:25and
36:25BRICS
36:26is a
36:26forum
36:26where
36:27all
36:27these
36:27parties
36:28are
36:28concerned
36:28at least
36:29it can
36:30be used
36:30as a
36:31pressure
36:31point
36:32on
36:32this
36:33issue
36:33without
36:37damaging
36:37Iran's
36:38interests
36:39Iran
36:39is a
36:40partner
36:40and also
36:41you've got
36:41to see
36:42that both
36:42Russia
36:43and China
36:44have supported
36:45Iran
36:45in quite a
36:46big way
36:47in the
36:47geopolitics
36:48of West
36:49Asia
36:50and India
36:51has been
36:51neutral
36:52more or
36:53less
36:53they had
36:54that
36:54disastrous
36:54trip
36:55to
36:55Israel
36:55but
36:56nonetheless
36:57they can
36:58put a
36:58pressure
36:59that all
36:59of them
37:00need to
37:01safeguard
37:03otherwise
37:03the world
37:04can spin
37:05into a
37:06depression
37:06like the
37:072007-8
37:09kind of
37:09situation
37:10and we
37:11need to
37:11safeguard
37:12that
37:12all right
37:13just stay
37:14on all
37:14our panelists
37:15just stay
37:15on with
37:16me
37:16I want
37:17to just
37:17quickly
37:17take our
37:18viewers
37:18through all
37:19that has
37:19taken place
37:20through the
37:20course of
37:21the day
37:21the kind
37:21of reactions
37:22we've been
37:22getting from
37:23the BRICS
37:24summit
37:24at a time
37:25when the
37:25world is
37:26clearly facing
37:27multiple wars
37:28rising tensions
37:29global supply
37:29chain disruptions
37:30a message
37:31has come
37:32from the
37:32BRICS
37:33global forum
37:34summit
37:35in Delhi
37:35a direct
37:36challenge
37:36seemingly
37:37especially
37:38by countries
37:39like Russia
37:40by countries
37:40like Iran
37:41to western
37:42economic
37:43dominance
37:43is it
37:45anti-west
37:45not quite
37:46so
37:46but very
37:47strong
37:47geopolitical
37:48messaging
37:49coming in
37:49Russian
37:50president
37:50Vladimir
37:51Putin
37:51accused
37:52the
37:52West
37:52of
37:52trying
37:53to
37:53regain
37:53its
37:54economic
37:54leadership
37:55alleging
37:55that
37:56western
37:56pressure
37:57is now
37:57taking
37:58an
37:58unseemingly
37:59turn
37:59from
37:59disrupting
38:00logistics
38:01to
38:01targeting
38:01critical
38:02infrastructure
38:02and pipelines
38:03meanwhile
38:04Iranian
38:04president
38:05Zeshkian
38:06too
38:07came
38:08and
38:08understandably
38:09so
38:09at
38:10western
38:10financial
38:11powers
38:11accusing
38:12the
38:12west
38:12of using
38:13economic
38:13instruments
38:14as
38:15political
38:15weapons
38:16and calling
38:16for
38:17BRICS
38:17to reduce
38:18its
38:18dependence
38:18on
38:19dominant
38:19currencies
38:20something
38:20that he
38:21had said
38:22before
38:22coming to
38:22the BRICS
38:23as well
38:23but amidst
38:24these
38:24geopolitical
38:25fault lines
38:26Prime Minister
38:26Modi
38:27flagged
38:27another
38:28immediate
38:28concern
38:29the safety
38:30of global
38:30trade routes
38:31warning
38:32that
38:32sea lanes
38:32must
38:33remain
38:33secure
38:34and
38:34open
38:36our
38:37western
38:38competitors
38:38are doing
38:39everything
38:39to get
38:41back
38:41their
38:42erstwhile
38:42competitive
38:44edge
38:44and sometimes
38:45this competition
38:45is taking
38:46some ugly
38:48forms
38:48and this is
38:49something our
38:49colleague from
38:50Iran has
38:50spoken about
38:51these ugly
38:52forms is
38:53something we
38:53see even
38:54at the state
38:55level at the
38:55government level
38:56sometimes there
38:56are
38:58measures
38:59resorted to
38:59of a physical
39:00nature when
39:01pipelines are
39:02being destroyed
39:03when attempts
39:04are undertaking
39:05to block
39:06international
39:06transport
39:07corridors
39:08to seize
39:10maritime
39:11vessels
39:12other
39:13illegal
39:13restrictions
39:14are being
39:15applied
39:16and there's
39:16also the
39:17threat of
39:17so-called
39:18secondary
39:18sanctions
39:19against those
39:20who do not
39:21want to
39:22follow someone
39:22else's interest
39:23and rather
39:24looks after
39:25their own
39:25the war
39:26today is
39:27going
39:27through one
39:29of its most
39:29complex
39:30periods
39:31geopolitical
39:33uncertainty
39:34disruptions
39:35in supply
39:35chains
39:36and the
39:37increasing
39:38use of
39:39economic
39:39instruments
39:40to exert
39:41political
39:41pressure
39:42have made
39:43the economic
39:44environment
39:45in which
39:46countries
39:47operate
39:47more complex
39:49the question
39:50is
39:50what is
39:51BRICS
39:52response
39:52to these
39:53challenges
39:53we believe
39:55that the
39:56truest strength
39:57of BRICS
39:57is not
39:58confined
39:59merely
40:00to the
40:00size
40:01of its
40:01members
40:02economics
40:02rather
40:03it becomes
40:04more apparent
40:05when these
40:07capacities
40:07are transformed
40:09into
40:10a network
40:11of trade
40:11investment
40:12and joint
40:13financing
40:14that is
40:15a transition
40:16from
40:16potential
40:17cooperation
40:18to
40:18operational
40:19one
40:19one of the
40:20most important
40:21steps
40:22is to
40:23expand
40:23the use
40:24of national
40:25currencies
40:26in trade
40:27among the
40:27members
40:28this step
40:29must be
40:29accompanied
40:30by the
40:31establishment
40:31of the
40:32necessary
40:32instruments
40:33for managing
40:34currency
40:35risks
40:35and reciprocal
40:37settlements
40:37since
40:38the current
40:39financial system
40:40is vulnerable
40:41to political
40:42shocks
40:43due to its
40:44concentration
40:45on a limited
40:47number of
40:47currencies
40:48in order to
40:49transform trade
40:50cooperation
40:50into real
40:51investment
40:52the new
40:53development
40:54bank
40:55must become
40:56the principal
40:57engine
40:58for financing
40:59infrastructure
40:59and energy
41:01in member
41:02countries
41:02through
41:03dedicated credit
41:05lines
41:05financing
41:06in local
41:07currencies
41:07and guarantee
41:09instruments
41:10for attracting
41:11private
41:12capital
41:13friends
41:14global
41:15trade
41:16tabhi
41:18aage
41:18bada
41:19shakta hai
41:19jab sea
41:21lanes
41:21secure
41:22ho
41:23supply
41:25routes
41:26open
41:26ho
41:27aur
41:28seafarers
41:29safe
41:30ho
41:31aur
41:32is liye
41:33bharat
41:34freedom
41:35of
41:35navigation
41:37and
41:38seafarers
41:39ki
41:39safety
41:39ka
41:39drad
41:40samar
41:40tak hai
41:42all right
41:42we don't
41:43have much
41:43time before
41:43we get
41:44into a
41:44break but
41:44I would
41:45like to
41:45you know
41:46get in
41:46everybody
41:46for one
41:47final comment
41:47on what
41:48they think
41:48is the
41:48biggest
41:49takeaway
41:49ambassador
41:49I think
41:51you know
41:51in the
41:51recent
41:52BRIC
41:52summits
41:52that we've
41:53seen
41:53this is
41:53the
41:53strongest
41:54geopolitical
41:55messaging
41:55coming in
41:56maybe not
41:56anti-west
41:57but at
41:58least
41:59challenging
41:59west
42:00dominance
42:02well I
42:03think in
42:03this era
42:04of weaponization
42:05of financial
42:06instruments
42:07connectivity
42:08routes
42:08as well as
42:10the food
42:10fertilizer
42:11and fuel
42:11these kind
42:13of statements
42:14are simply
42:14natural
42:15I mean
42:15there is
42:16nothing
42:16abnormal
42:16about them
42:17that everybody
42:18is trying
42:18to insulate
42:19itself from
42:20unilateralism
42:21of certain
42:21countries
42:22so that is
42:23pretty normal
42:24and India
42:25is stuck
42:25into its
42:26guns
42:26but the
42:27meeting
42:27between
42:28Prime Minister
42:28Modi
42:29and Dr.
42:30Pazeshkian
42:30perhaps in
42:31my view
42:32also would
42:33have talked
42:33about the
42:34tomorrow's
42:35statement
42:35that is
42:36going to
42:36come out
42:36the Delhi
42:37declaration
42:38so forth
42:38so the
42:39differences
42:40that between
42:40Iran and
42:41UAE and
42:41Saudi Arabia
42:42that has
42:42been blocking
42:44some kind
42:44of a consensus
42:45that needs
42:46to be addressed
42:46apart from
42:47the bilateral
42:48issues
42:48on the
42:49Chabahar I
42:49would like
42:50to just
42:50mention one
42:51word
42:51that India
42:52and Iran
42:52have discussed
42:53it again
42:53and again
42:54and there
42:54has been
42:55an understanding
42:55exactly how
42:57it is to
42:57be played
42:58out and I
42:59agree with
42:59Raj with that
43:01fair point
43:02sir
43:02Maxim
43:03would you
43:04want to
43:04just quickly
43:05comment
43:05what would
43:05be that
43:07Russia
43:07would be
43:08following
43:08very closely
43:09the biggest
43:09takeaway
43:10from Russia
43:10from the
43:1118th
43:11BRICS summit
43:14so for
43:15Russia the
43:16key point
43:17is to
43:18develop
43:18cooperation
43:19with India
43:20because India
43:21is a
43:22crucial
43:23partner of
43:23Russia
43:24and Russian
43:25Indian
43:26bilateral
43:27cooperation
43:28is a
43:29factor of
43:30the all
43:31world
43:31stabilization
43:32because
43:33if Russia
43:34and India
43:35are friends
43:36it
43:38brings
43:39stability
43:40to the
43:41world
43:41and do
43:42all
43:43in Russia
43:43all right
43:44thank you
43:45Max
43:45I just
43:45want to
43:46bring in
43:46Professor
43:46Chenoy
43:47Professor
43:47Chenoy
43:48you know
43:48very quickly
43:49if you can
43:49sum up
43:50on how
43:52each
43:53participant
43:53in each
43:54country
43:54would be
43:54able to
43:55safeguard
43:55their
43:56interests
43:56because
43:56clearly
43:57everyone
43:57is trying
43:58to watch
43:59out for
43:59themselves
43:59and
44:00understandably
44:00keeping
44:00the
44:01geopolitics
44:01in mind
44:03well
44:03one
44:04about
44:04this
44:04very
44:05important
44:05thing
44:05of
44:05freedom
44:06of
44:06navigation
44:06it
44:07was
44:07open
44:08you know
44:09the
44:09Strait of
44:09Hormuz
44:09was open
44:10and when
44:11did it
44:11close
44:11only
44:12when
44:12Israel
44:13and Iran
44:13started
44:14bombing
44:14Iran
44:16Israel
44:16and the
44:17US
44:17so
44:18if they
44:19go back
44:20to
44:20status quo
44:21anti
44:21it can
44:22open
44:22again
44:23one
44:23second
44:24everyone
44:24in
44:25BRICS
44:26you know
44:26the best
44:27thing about
44:27BRICS
44:28is that
44:28there's
44:29discussion
44:29diplomacy
44:30and
44:31ultimately
44:32a consensual
44:33statement
44:33which often
44:34has like
44:3527
44:35paragraphs
44:36the Delhi
44:36declaration
44:37will be
44:38an important
44:39one
44:39but I
44:40hope
44:40it
44:40puts
44:40pressure
44:41and
44:41gives
44:41a
44:41message
44:42to
44:42the
44:42West
44:42that
44:43they
44:43should
44:44not
44:44weaponize
44:45the
44:46dollar
44:47and all
44:47their
44:48instruments
44:48tariffs
44:48now have
44:49become
44:49like
44:50sanctions
44:50and they're
44:51putting
44:51the sword
44:52of tariffs
44:52on India
44:5350%
44:53tariff
44:54if we
44:54continue
44:54and the
44:55West
44:55would
44:55also be
44:56very closely
44:56watching
44:56the
44:57developments
44:57at the
44:57BRICS
44:58I'm sorry
44:58I'm cutting
44:59you short
44:59I have
44:59very little
45:00time
45:00and I
45:00want to
45:00quickly
45:01squeeze
45:01in
45:01Sandeep
45:02and Raj
45:02as well
45:02Sandeep
45:03would you
45:04want to
45:04weigh in
45:05for India
45:06and you
45:06have
45:07stressed
45:09on it
45:09enough times
45:10especially
45:10where sea
45:11routes
45:11and
45:11seafarers
45:12are
45:12concerned
45:13what is
45:13India
45:14looking
45:14at
45:14especially
45:15also
45:16keeping
45:16an eye
45:16on the
45:17meeting
45:17with China
45:18tomorrow
45:20India's
45:20biggest
45:21message is
45:21that
45:21we cannot
45:22have
45:23conflict
45:23and if
45:24do anything
45:25to ensure
45:25that the
45:25Russia
45:26Ukraine
45:26conflict
45:26does not
45:27enter
45:27into
45:28a
45:29sixth
45:29year
45:29I mean
45:30that's
45:30how long
45:30that
45:31conflict
45:31has been
45:31on
45:32and
45:32of course
45:33this
45:33unending
45:34spiral
45:35that the
45:35Iran
45:36US
45:36conflict
45:37seems
45:37to have
45:37taken
45:37and
45:37these
45:38are
45:38two
45:38wars
45:39that
45:39are
45:39not
45:39just
45:39threatening
45:40our
45:40seafarers
45:40they're
45:41affecting
45:41the
45:41Indian
45:41economy
45:42and
45:42that
45:42is
45:42a
45:43big
45:43point
45:43that
45:44India
45:44has
45:45been
45:45repeatedly
45:45trying
45:46to
45:46make
45:46to
45:46the
45:47rest
45:47of
45:47the
45:47world
45:47that
45:54this
45:54spiraling
45:55out
45:55of
45:55control
45:56for the
45:57first
45:57time
45:58in
45:59decades
45:59possibly
46:00and Raj
46:00can
46:00possibly
46:01answer
46:01that
46:02for the
46:02first
46:03time
46:03that
46:03you
46:03are
46:03seeing
46:04the
46:04use
46:04of
46:04nuclear
46:05weapons
46:05being
46:05spoken
46:06about
46:06in
46:06two
46:07conflicts
46:07in
46:08the
46:08Iran
46:08conflict
46:09and
46:09in
46:10the
46:10Russia
46:10Ukraine
46:10conflict
46:10and
46:11that's
46:11extremely
46:11dangerous
46:12because
46:12you never
46:13know
46:13what
46:13could
46:13happen
46:14tomorrow
46:14if
46:14these
46:14conflicts
46:15continue
46:15and
46:15people
46:16think
46:17that
46:17they're
46:17running
46:17out
46:17of
46:17options
46:18they
46:18might
46:18use
46:18nuclear
46:19weapons
46:19to
46:19achieve
46:20a
46:20stalemate
46:21break
46:21Raj
46:23final
46:23comments
46:24with
46:24the
46:24kind
46:24of
46:24commentary
46:25the
46:25kind
46:25of
46:25language
46:26that
46:26has
46:26emanated
46:26out
46:27of
46:27the
46:27BRICS
46:28today
46:28what
46:30we
46:30can
46:30look
46:30at
46:30tomorrow
46:31the
46:31fine
46:32print
46:32of
46:32the
46:32Delhi
46:33declaration
46:33the
46:33joint
46:34statement
46:34seemingly
46:35quite
46:36clear
46:36now
46:36you know
46:37Preeti
46:38what I'd
46:39really like
46:39to look
46:39at
46:40is
46:40the
46:40weakest
46:41link
46:41in
46:41the
46:41whole
46:41BRICS
46:42arrangement
46:43is
46:43the
46:43economic
46:44integration
46:46groupings
46:47like
46:47these
46:48bind them
46:49together
46:49not just
46:50talking
46:50shops
46:51or
46:51a
46:52common
46:52interest
46:53so
46:54I think
46:56what I
46:57look for
46:57tomorrow
46:58is two
46:58things
46:58one is
46:59BRICS
47:00has never
47:00been short
47:00of ideas
47:01but their
47:01problem
47:02has been
47:02terribly
47:03short
47:03of
47:03implementation
47:04particularly
47:05on the
47:05economic
47:06front
47:06you have
47:06these
47:06wonderful
47:07ideas
47:07that
47:07India
47:07has
47:07come
47:08out
47:08with
47:08incubators
47:09startups
47:10I mean
47:11this is
47:11tremendous
47:11because
47:12the
47:12global
47:12south
47:12just
47:13like
47:13India
47:13requires
47:14a lot
47:14of
47:14these
47:14startups
47:15to be
47:16invigorated
47:17funded
47:18and move
47:19forward
47:19with examples
47:20that are
47:20there
47:20that's
47:21something
47:22that we
47:22need to
47:22look at
47:23tomorrow
47:23second I
47:24would say
47:24that in
47:25terms of
47:26the new
47:26development
47:27bank
47:27NDB and
47:28funding other
47:29countries
47:29that's what
47:29the other
47:30things
47:30is a
47:31binding
47:31force
47:31that's
47:32that's
47:32the brass
47:32tax
47:32of it
47:33but
47:33just to
47:33close
47:34in on
47:34this
47:34in terms
47:35of
47:35optics
47:35do you
47:36think
47:36the
47:36kind
47:36of
47:36optics
47:37that
47:37are
47:37coming
47:37out
47:37of
47:38the
47:38BRICS
47:38are very
47:38very important
47:39at this
47:39time
47:40of course
47:42there is
47:43no doubt
47:43that the
47:44BRICS
47:45whatever others
47:45might say
47:46is collectively
47:48a tremendous
47:49organization
47:50to put forward
47:51a lot of
47:51the key issues
47:52that are there
47:53come out with
47:53the consensus
47:54of them
47:54and tell
47:55the rest
47:56of the world
47:56look
47:57this is what
47:57we have worked
47:58out particularly
47:58in terms of
47:59conflict
48:00and the
48:00hormones
48:00rate
48:01second
48:01in terms
48:02of the
48:02economic
48:02integration
48:03and the
48:04fact
48:04that
48:04weaponization
48:05that is
48:05happening
48:06we need
48:06to do
48:07that
48:07and third
48:07of course
48:08looking at
48:08the global
48:09south
48:09we are
48:10one of the
48:10biggest
48:10representatives
48:11on that
48:12these are
48:13the three
48:13focal points
48:14I think
48:14we should
48:14look forward
48:15to tomorrow
48:15right
48:16the optics
48:17of this
48:17will be
48:17making the
48:18west
48:18a tad bit
48:18uncomfortable
48:19we also
48:19going to
48:20keep our
48:20eyes
48:20trained
48:21on the
48:21India
48:22China
48:22meet
48:23tomorrow
48:23when
48:23Prime
48:24Minister
48:24Modi
48:24meets
48:25President
48:25Xi Jinping
48:26and
48:27now
48:27we're
48:28going to
48:28head into
48:28a quick
48:28break
48:28and
48:29Gaurav is
48:29going to
48:29take you
48:29through
48:30the
48:30fine print
48:30that has
48:31come in
48:31from the
48:32bilateral
48:32between
48:33India
48:33and Iran
48:35do stay
48:35tuned
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