International Relations

PM Modi Warns Against Weaponisation of Critical Minerals at BRICS 2026

14 September 2026UPSCSSCBank

In Brief

India hosts BRICS Summit 2026, adopting New Delhi Declaration while emphasizing open trade and cooperative tech access.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the BRICS 2026 Summit in New Delhi, cautioning against the weaponisation of critical minerals and technological dominance by global powers. The leaders adopted a comprehensive 45-page New Delhi Declaration emphasizing multipolarity, economic inclusion, and reformed global governance mechanisms.

Critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements are indispensable for green energy transitions and advanced technology production. Global supply concentration has sparked geopolitical concerns, prompting India to advocate for equitable access and transparent supply chains under multilateral frameworks like BRICS.

The Summit featured over 15 bilateral meetings between India and partner nations including South Africa, Egypt, and Indonesia. Key highlights included discussions on the 'Three Mutuals' (mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, mutual interest) for India-China ties and proposals for a unified BRICS Grain Exchange.

For UPSC aspirants, this highlights core themes in International Relations and strategic trade security. Expect Prelims MCQs on BRICS member expansion and critical mineral diplomacy, while Mains papers (GS-II & GS-III) can evaluate multipolar diplomacy and supply chain resilience.

#BRICS-2026#New-Delhi-Declaration#critical-minerals#India-China-ties#multipolarity

UPSC Study NotesHIGHGS2 — International Relations & GS3 — Infrastructure & Supply Chain Security

GS2 — International Relations & GS3 — Infrastructure & Supply Chain Security

📌 Exam Angle

Prelims: Expect MCQs on BRICS expansion, critical minerals definition, and India's diplomatic stance on supply chain equity. Mains (GS-II): Essay on India's multipolar diplomacy strategy and reforming global governance; (GS-III): Answer on critical mineral supply chain resilience and green energy transition vulnerabilities.

⚠️ Key Concerns

The news highlights weaponisation of critical minerals as geopolitical leverage—a direct challenge to developing nations' technological autonomy and energy security. India's push for "equitable access" masks deeper North-South tensions over rare earth element monopolies (China controls ~70% of processing). The fragility of BRICS unity on unified frameworks remains questionable given divergent interests of member states.

💡 Why It Matters

India's advocacy positions it as a Global South leader reshaping trade rules, crucial for its EV revolution and semiconductor ambitions. Supply chain diversification away from monopolistic control directly impacts India's energy security, manufacturing competitiveness, and strategic autonomy in a multipolar world.

🔑 Must Remember

• Critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements) are non-substitutable for green energy and tech—their concentration creates geopolitical vulnerabilities. • BRICS New Delhi Declaration emphasizes multipolarity and reformed global governance as counter to Western dominance. • India's "Three Mutuals" framework attempts to manage India-China strategic competition within multilateral forums.

📝 Key Terms

BRICScritical mineralsmultipolaritysupply chain resiliencerare earth elementsgeopolitical leverageGlobal Southgreen energy transitionmultilateral frameworkstechnological autonomy

PM Modi Warns Against Weaponisation of Critical Minerals at BRICS 2026

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