India has called for intensified efforts to combat terrorism as Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought a coordinated action by BRICS members to shape the global agenda to counter the growing menace and help developing nations achieve their objectives. In an apparent reference to Pakistan he called for isolation of supporters and sponsors of terror. He also called for intensifying joint efforts not just to fight terror but to coordinate actions to isolate those who are supporters and sponsors of terror. He said terrorism remains the “primary source of instability and the biggest threat to our societies” and countries and the supplies chains have a global reach. India’s deepened ties with a number Asia-Pacific countries has clear implications for its role within the BRICS. There is a clear “China factor” in each of these relationships, as fellow BRICS-member Beijing continues to solidify its status as the premier regional power. In turn, there is a greater opportunity in India-China relations for cooperation, but also a heightened risk of divergence. Looking at India’s own geopolitical and economic interests, the country has made some significant strides over the past few years with countries like Japan, Vietnam and Bangladesh. BRICS brings together five major emerging economies, comprising 43 per cent of the world population, having 37 per cent of the world GDP and 17 per cent share in the world trade. As a formal grouping, BRIC started after the meeting of the leaders of Russia, India and China in St. Petersburg on the margins of G8 Outreach Summit in 2006. The grouping was formalised during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers on the sidelines of UN General Assembly in New York in 2006. The first BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on 16th June, 2009. BRIC was expanded into BRICS with the inclusion of South Africa at the BRIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New York in September 2010. Accordingly, South Africa attended the third BRICS Summit in Sanya, China in April 2011.
