S Jaishankar to Represent India at BRICS Meet on Trump’s Trade Tariffs

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India at a virtual BRICS leaders' summit on September 8, convened by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The meeting comes at a time of heightened tensions between BRICS nations and the United States over steep trade tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

India's Position

For New Delhi, Jaishankar's participation is critical in voicing India's concerns over the 25% tariff Washington has slapped on Indian imports, linking the move to India's continued purchase of Russian oil. India has described the tariff as "unfair and unreasonable," and Jaishankar is expected to underline the importance of energy security and strategic autonomy during the discussions.

Multilateral Push

Brazilian officials said the summit will also serve as a platform to rally emerging economies around the principles of multilateralism. Alongside India, other BRICS members-China, Russia, and South Africa-are likely to coordinate their response to US trade actions, which have also targeted Brazil with a 50% tariff on key exports like coffee.

Strategic Context

The timing of the BRICS meeting is significant. It follows a high-profile encounter between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the SCO Summit in Tianjin, widely read as a signal of India's evolving position amid friction with Washington.

Former US President Donald Trump has added fuel to the debate, claiming the US has "lost India and Russia to China," while threatening further tariffs against BRICS countries seeking to trade in local currencies.

Jaishankar's presence at the BRICS summit underscores India's determination to protect its economic interests while reinforcing its commitment to a balanced, multilateral order.