By Ubeer Naqushbandi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said India is committed to BRICS as a vital platform for cooperation among emerging economies as he left on a week-long visit to five countries, including Brazil where he will attend the bloc鈥檚 meeting.BRICS grouping comprises 10 member countries, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the UAE.In his departure statement, the PM said, 鈥淚 will attend BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7. As a founding member, India is committed to BRICS as a vital platform for cooperation among emerging economies. Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world order.鈥滺e also said on the sidelines of BRICS Summit, he will also meet several world leaders and also travel to Brasilia for a bilateral state visit.Modi鈥檚 visit to Brazil is the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly six decades. 鈥淭his visit will provide an opportunity to strengthen our close partnership with Brazil, and work with my friend, President Luiz In谩cio Lula da Silva, on advancing the priorities of the Global South,鈥 he said.Modi began his five-nation tour with visits scheduled to Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia between July 2 and 9.The PM鈥檚 tour is aimed at enhancing India鈥檚 deepening engagement with the Global South and its commitment to forging stronger partnerships across the Atlantic.鈥淚 am confident that my visits to the five countries will reinforce our bonds friendship across the Global South, strengthen our partnerships on both sides of the Atlantic, and deepen engagements in the multilateral platforms such as BRICS, the African Union, ECOWAS and CARICOM,鈥 the PM said.Modi鈥檚 first stop is Ghana, where he will be hosted by President John Dramani Mahama.During the July 2鈥3 visit, the PM is expected to focus on enhancing cooperation in sectors such as investment, energy, health, security, and development. 鈥淕hana is a valued partner in the Global South and plays an important role in the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States,鈥 he said.PM will also address the Parliament of Ghana – a gesture he called 鈥渁n honour鈥 for both countries as fellow democracies. Then in West Africa, the Prime Minister will travel to Trinidad and Tobago on July 3-4.Terming the Caribbean nation, a country with which India shares 鈥渄eep-rooted historical, cultural and people-to-people connect鈥, Modi noted that this year marks 180 years since the first Indians arrived there.He will meet President Christine Carla Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who recently began her second term in office. 鈥淭his visit will provide an opportunity to rejuvenate the special bonds of ancestry and kinship that unite us,鈥 he said.Following this, the PM will head to Buenos Aires, marking the first bilateral visit by an Indian PM to Argentina in 57 years. Argentina, described as 鈥渁 key economic partner in Latin America and a close collaborator in G20,鈥 is expected to deepen collaboration with India in areas like agriculture, energy, trade, technology and critical minerals.PM Modi is scheduled to meet President Javier Milei, with whom he held a prior meeting last year.The Brazil leg of the trip includes participation in BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7, followed by a bilateral state visit to Bras铆lia.鈥淚ndia is committed to BRICS as a vital platform for cooperation among emerging economies. Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world order,鈥 the PM said. His visit to Bras铆lia- the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly six decades- will include talks with President Luiz In谩cio Lula da Silva on shared Global South priorities.The tour concludes in Namibia, where PM Modi will meet President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Emphasising the 鈥渃ommon history of struggle against colonialism鈥 that binds the two nations, he said, 鈥淚t will be a privilege to also address the Joint Session of Namibian Parliament as we celebrate our enduring solidarity and shared commitment for freedom and development.鈥