Uruguay’s Foreign Minister lauds India‑led BRICS summit as a milestone

When asked about the outcome of the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi, Uruguay’s foreign minister Mario Lubetkin didn’t hold back. He praised India’s chairmanship and called the gathering a clear success – even though the diplomatic climate was anything but simple.

“The presidency of India should be proud,” Lubetkin told ANI. “We managed to pull off a consensus in a very complicated international scenario. That, in itself, is a huge result.” He smiled, then added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ability to keep the dialogue flowing was the key to that achievement.

For Lubetkin, the real triumph lay in the New Delhi Declaration. “It’s not a fluffy, soft‑spoken statement,” he explained. “It’s a solid document that really tackles the pressing issues the world faces today.” He emphasized that the declaration addressed everything from sustainable development to innovation – topics that matter a great deal to Uruguay.

Uruguay isn’t a BRICS member, but it has been invited to the outreach sessions. “We were in Rio last year, invited by President Lula, and now we’re here, thanks to Prime Minister Modi,” Lubetkin said, clearly delighted by the invitation. He highlighted that the country’s participation is about amplifying the voice of the Global South.

“Our message is simple,” he continued. “We’re ready to work more closely with India and the other BRICS nations. The Global South is gaining momentum, and we want to be part of that forward‑looking wave.” He noted that Uruguay used the platform to push for consensus on sustainability and innovation – two pillars the small South American nation sees as essential for its own growth.

Looking beyond the summit hall, Lubetkin warned that many outside the Global South still don’t grasp the significance of what happened in Delhi. “We need to help the wider world understand the meaning of this summit,” he said. “Only then can we build better negotiation capacities and a more cooperative future for everyone.”