Jaishankar Expands India’s Global Footprint as BRICS Diplomacy Takes Centre Stage

In a sweeping display of diplomatic engagement, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday held a series of high-stakes bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Thailand, and Ethiopia on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, using India's chairship of the bloc to sharpen the country's strategic partnerships across three continents while a volatile world watched closely.

The two day meeting, hosted at Bharat Mandapam , serves as a decisive platform for navigating the complexities of a shifting world order, reinforcing India's role as a pivotal bridge in international diplomacy. This is the fourth time India is leading the grouping, having previously hosted BRICS summits in 2012, 2016, and 2021 , and the first major ministerial level engagement under New Delhi's BRICS chairship after assuming the presidency from Brazil on January 1, 2026.

The ongoing Iran war cast a long shadow over the proceedings, coinciding with US President Donald Trump's state visit to China. In his opening remarks, Jaishankar called for unimpeded maritime movement through international waters, as the Strait of Hormuz , through which nearly a fifth of global oil and gas supplies pass, remains under blockade. He warned that the world is becoming increasingly uncertain and fragmented, with the heaviest burden falling on emerging economies and developing nations.

During his bilateral meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty , the two leaders reviewed developments at the BRICS gathering and exchanged views on the rapidly evolving situation in West Asia , highlighting the growing strategic importance of the India Egypt partnership.

In talks with Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow , discussions centred on expanding cooperation in trade, connectivity, maritime affairs, and defence . The two sides also shared perspectives on developments in Myanmar and West Asia, reflecting common regional concerns.

Jaishankar also met Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos Hessebon , with both nations reviewing progress made since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Addis Ababa last year. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the India Ethiopia strategic partnership and discussed regional issues of mutual interest.

Prime Minister Modi also interacted with foreign ministers and heads of delegation from BRICS countries, underlining that the bloc has emerged as an important platform for advancing cooperation among emerging economies and amplifying the voice of the Global South . Notably, Modi met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi , marking India's first high level diplomatic outreach to Tehran since the outbreak of the Iran conflict.

At the session titled 'BRICS@20' , Jaishankar highlighted initiatives such as the BRICS MSME Connect Portal , the Trade Receivables Discounting System , the BRICS Incubator Network , and partnerships in agriculture and health as key pillars of the bloc's evolving cooperation agenda. The theme of India's chairship, "Humanity First," reflects New Delhi's emphasis on a people centric approach to global development.

The meeting is widely being viewed as a strategic precursor to the BRICS Leaders' Summit that India will host later this year and Thursday's diplomatic marathon made it clear that New Delhi intends to arrive there with its global partnerships firmly strengthened.