Salman Khurshid, India’s first Muslim foreign minister, recently praised the joint Delhi Declaration signed at the BRICS Summit, saying there was no reason to doubt its significance. His remarks, quoted by a BJP worker, highlight a willingness among some opposition leaders to acknowledge the government’s diplomatic initiatives.
India’s economic weight has grown markedly, with a nominal GDP exceeding $4 trillion and a ranking as the world’s fourth‑largest economy after the United States, China, Germany and Japan. The country’s role in global affairs was underlined by its successful hosting of the 2023 G‑20 Summit and the BRICS meeting in New Delhi, which saw leaders such as President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin visit the capital.
Diplomatic outreach continued with Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar’s visit to Kyiv, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked India for its commitment to ending the conflict. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s calls for ending “endless wars” extended to the US‑Iran confrontation, and the Delhi Declaration addressed these tensions. Modi also met 15 heads of state, including the Iranian president, and stressed protecting civilians and seafarers.
The summit’s outcomes include support from Russia and China for India’s and Brazil’s entry into the UN Security Council, the formation of a BRICS Expert Working Group on traditional medicine under the Health Track, and a renewed vision of India as a “Vishwaguru.” These developments signal a shift toward greater strategic autonomy and a stronger global presence as India moves toward 2047.
