Uruguay’s Foreign Minister Applauds India’s Leadership at the 18th BRICS Summit

In a candid interview after the 18th BRICS gathering in New Delhi, Uruguay’s foreign minister Mario Lubetkin expressed genuine admiration for India’s role as this year’s chair. He said the summit felt like a "huge result" – a phrase that captures both the scale of the achievement and the relief that comes after months of intense negotiations.

Lubetkin didn’t shy away from admitting that the international climate is anything but simple. “The global scenario is complicated, and BRICS mirrors that complexity,” he told ANI. Yet, despite the tangled web of interests, the members managed to craft a common platform, something he called a “substantive” New Delhi Declaration, not just a soft‑spoken finish.

When asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s contribution, the Uruguayan minister smiled and said, “Seeing Modi bring everyone together, steering the dialogue toward consensus – that’s a massive accomplishment.” He reminded listeners that the BRICS nations together represent more than 40 percent of world GDP, so any agreement among them carries real weight.

Uruguay, of course, is not a formal BRICS member. Still, the tiny South‑American nation has been welcomed to the outskirts of the talks – first in Rio de Janeiro last year, invited by Brazil’s President Lula, and now in New Delhi at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. “We’re happy to be part of these meetings,” Lubetkin said, emphasizing that the invitation signals a growing openness to voices from the Global South.

His message to the wider world was crystal clear: the Global South needs to tighten its bonds, especially on issues like sustainability and innovation. “We want to highlight consensus on key topics that matter to us – climate, technology, inclusive growth,” he explained. In his view, the summit’s outcomes should be a rallying point for nations that share similar development challenges.

Looking ahead, Lubetkin warned that the real test lies in translating the Delhi agreements into everyday action and in helping other countries understand what the summit truly meant. “It’s a challenge to convey the significance of the New Delhi weekend to those who aren’t watching the Global South closely,” he noted, adding that better communication could foster a more cooperative future.

Overall, the Uruguayan foreign minister left the press room with a sense of optimism. He praised India’s “very strong contribution” to the global atmosphere and called for continued dialogue that bridges gaps, not widens them.