With India as host, here are better goals for BRICS than ‘confronting the West’ - The Indian Express

**India Gears Up to Host BRICS: A Call for Constructive Objectives Beyond Confrontation**

New Delhi is poised to welcome leaders of Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa for the 2025 BRICS summit, the first time the bloc will convene on Indian soil. While the Indian Express editorial argues that the grouping should move past a rhetoric of “confronting the West,” the host nation is already outlining a forward‑looking agenda centered on trade facilitation, sustainable development, and digital cooperation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office has signaled that the summit will prioritize concrete outcomes such as a common framework for green finance, an accelerated rollout of the iBRICS digital platform, and expanded cooperation in health, agriculture, and renewable energy—areas where the five economies collectively command more than a third of global output.

The capital’s logistical machinery is in full swing. Delhi’s traffic police have imposed restrictions on key arterial routes, including the Delhi‑Gurgaon corridor, to ensure smooth transit for delegations and security personnel. The government has also ordered a civic makeover of the Bharat Mandapam‑airport axis, with officials conducting a final inspection ahead of the summit. Over 500 investors, finance ministers, and business leaders are expected to attend the inaugural iBRICS summit, a parallel event aimed at showcasing investment opportunities across the bloc. Schools across the city will remain closed on Friday, and public transport will run on a limited schedule, underscoring the scale of the operation.

Analysts say that refocusing BRICS on collaborative projects could bolster the bloc’s relevance in a multipolar world. By channeling its collective bargaining power toward building resilient supply chains, standardizing digital trade protocols, and fostering South‑South financing mechanisms, BRICS can present a constructive alternative to existing geopolitical tensions. Such an agenda would not only address the developmental needs of member economies but also provide a platform for emerging markets to engage with global governance on their own terms, thereby redefining the group’s purpose beyond a mere counterbalance to Western institutions.