Why G7? Jaishankar asks when questioned about the need for BRICS

Jaishankar advocates for BRICS' existence alongside G7, highlighting global South's importance and multi-alignment in foreign policy.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday (September 12, 2024) dismissed the argument that there was no need for “another club” called the BRICS, and said he was struck by the “insecurity” in the developed world over the grouping.

During a conversation with Ambassador Jean-David Levitte at the Global Centre for Security Policy, a think tank, here, Jaishankar said if the G7 can exist when there is the G20, there is no reason why BRICS cannot.

Accounting for 27% of global GDP, BRICS was founded by Brazil, Russia, India, and China; later South Africa joined it, and in January 2024, five new countries – Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, and Ethiopia — joined the bloc.

“Why the club? Because there was another club! It was called the G7 and you will not let anybody else into that club. So, we go and form our own club,” Mr. Jaishankar told to a loud cheer from the audience.

“I'm still struck by how insecure the North is when you speak about the bricks. Somehow, something seems to get under people's skin,” he said.

“Here's an observation. There is a G20, did the G7 disband? Has it stopped meeting? No, it still continues. So, the G20 exists, but the G7 still exists. Then, why can't the G20 be there and the BRICS also exist?” he asserted to another round of loud applause.

Mr. Jaishankar explained how the BRICS started and how it gained “the life of its own over a period of time” as others saw value in it as well.