Weaponisation of technology, critical minerals can impede development: PM Modi at BRICS

Weaponisation of technology, critical minerals can impede development: PM Modi at BRICS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 13 warned that the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals could become an impediment to collective development, as he called for greater resilience and more inclusive access to technology amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Speaking on the second day of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Modi said growing geopolitical tensions were increasingly affecting the lives of ordinary people, while pandemics, climate disasters and supply-chain disruptions had demonstrated how crises can rapidly spill across borders.

“Weaponisation of technology and critical minerals can be an impediment to our collective development,” Modi said, adding that India’s BRICS presidency had stressed inclusivity in technology adoption.

The remarks come amid growing global concerns over the concentration of critical mineral supply chains and access to technologies crucial for manufacturing, digital infrastructure and the energy transition.

The New Delhi Declaration adopted by BRICS leaders has also called for reliable, diversified and resilient critical mineral supply chains, along with greater value addition and economic diversification in resource-rich countries.

Modi said India’s leadership of BRICS had prioritised four areas, ie, innovation, resilience, cooperation and sustainability, and sought to translate a shared vision among member countries into “win-win” partnerships.

BRICS pushes resilience mechanisms

Modi said BRICS countries had established an integrated early-warning system for infectious disease prevention and response, alongside guidelines to integrate early-warning data for disaster management.

“The pandemic, climate disasters and supply-chain disruptions have shown that in an interconnected world, no problem is contained to a single arena,” he noted.

India’s BRICS agenda has placed resilience at the centre of cooperation, covering shocks ranging from health emergencies and climate risks to disruptions in global supply chains.

Modi also sought to broaden BRICS engagement beyond national governments, saying entrepreneurs, farmers, researchers, young people and women should become participants in the grouping’s initiatives.

He said BRICS CONNECT would focus on areas including skills, employability, social security and greater participation of women in the workforce, while a BRICS MSME portal would improve access to knowledge and finance for small businesses.

Solutions must reach Global South

Modi said initiatives developed by BRICS should not remain confined to member economies but should be adaptable and accessible to countries across the Global South.

“The Global South has found a voice with BRICS,” he said, adding that solutions should not merely be designed for developing economies but developed with their participation.

The Prime Minister also stressed the need to reconcile economic development with environmental sustainability.

“In Indian culture, nature is equated with mother. Development and environment are not opposite sides, but should be complementary,” he said.

Modi said a BRICS digital centre of excellence would support efforts to make clean-energy systems more reliable, as the grouping seeks deeper cooperation on technology, energy security and resilient supply chains.

Concluding his remarks, Modi said BRICS members may be “rooted in different realities”, but could rise together through cooperation and “blossom through humanity”.

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