'From Multilateralism To Nation First': Rajeev Chandrasekhar Explains Why BRICS Is Important Today

Former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday emphasised the importance of BRICS in a changing world, where the focus has moved from multilateralism to a nation-first approach.

Speaking at CNN-News18‘s Bharat’s Moment In The Global South event, Chandrasekhar said, “Everybody understands that the world has changed. We’ve moved from multilateralism to every country trying to chart its own path — nation first. But the BRICS grouping represents something contextually important in the backdrop of how the world is changing.”

The BJP leader said global trade and relationships largely focused on energy around 10-15 years ago. However, technology, innovation, and supply chains that form the core of any geopolitical discussion are now becoming harder

to predict.

“At a time when India has today put itself in a situation or position where we are ambitious about being a developed nation, being part of a grouping like BRICS is essentially a very important insurance policy for our growth,” he stated.

AI Is Here To Stay

Chandrasekhar laid particular emphasis on the evolution of artificial intelligence, saying it has and will continue to bring deep and disruptive changes in global relations. He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to position India as a key player in global manufacturing supply chains, which he framed as key for the vision of Viksit Bharat.

“Now, having a grouping like this (BRICS) allows India to grow, and can allow India to grow without necessarily making it a zero-sum game with countries like China or Vietnam. It could be that we can grow and they can grow too. We can grow in areas, and they can grow as well,” he added.

Chandrasekhar said manufacturing and technology were critical in today’s time and the country’s role in BRICS could allow it to draw a blueprint for Viksit Bharat and build a presence in manufacturing supply chains in a non-disruptive manner.

He said there is an “extreme likelihood” that BRICS will become decisive in the current geopolitical scenario, calling it an extremely impactful group of nations.