Modi warns BRICS against using critical minerals as geopolitical weapons

The BRICS summit in New Delhi revealed diverging priorities among member states regarding raw materials and technology. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned against the use of critical minerals and technology as geopolitical weapons, arguing that such tactics hinder collective progress. This statement follows recent Chinese export restrictions on rare metals and limitations on high-tech transfers affecting Indian businesses. The resulting "Delhi Declaration" emphasizes the creation of diversified and resilient supply chains for critical raw materials. In handing over the chairmanship to China, India pushed for a principle of inclusivity to ensure resource access is not controlled by a single actor. Chinese President Xi Jinping countered with a proposal to integrate Global South markets. His plan includes the establishment of an open BRICS community for artificial intelligence (AI), the development of language models, and the launch of a digital cloud platform. Xi also proposed a partnership for special economic zones supported by a joint intellectual portal to coordinate trade and policy.