Modi Defends Indian Pharma as Trump Tariffs Rise at BRICS Rio Meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for overall reform of global institutions in his speech during the BRICS Summit's "Reform for Global Governance" session, resonating with calls to increase the voice of the Global South at institutions such as the UN Security Council, WTO, and multilateral development banks.

Modi complained about the widespread "double standards" applied to Global South countries in issues of security, development, and the distribution of resources. "These institutions are like telephones with SIM cards but without a network," Modi said, lamenting their inability to guide global conflicts, pandemics, and financial crises.

Modi called the institution a dynamic platform that can be reshaped. "21st-century software cannot run on 20th-century typewriters," he stated, calling for reforms in governance like voting rights and leadership positions.

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Just before the summit, Modi concluded his eight-day tour of Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Argentina. In Buenos Aires, it was the first such visit by an Indian prime minister in 57 years; there he sought greater access to Indian medicine and cooperation in priority minerals, oil, defense, nuclear, space, among others. For drugs, Modi asked Argentina to relax moving Indian drugs from Annex  II to Annex  I in their regulation of pharmaceuticals, which will ease its market entry. Argentina already has fast-track approval of FDA- or EMA-approved Indian medicines.

The Trinidad and Tobago MoUs, on the other hand, constituted awarding Overseas Citizenship of India to six generations of its overseas citizens, and cooperation in the Indian Pharmacopoeia for the roll out of cheap medicines.

The agenda for the summit also calls for debate on regional tensions, such as Israel's aggression against Iran, the Gaza humanitarian crisis, and US trade tariffs, with signs of differing positions within BRICS.