External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Parliament on Friday that BRICS is not "disintegrating" despite recent US tariff threats. In a written response, he stated that the grouping's common thread is its "commitment to multi-polarity."

Jaishankar explained that BRICS has grown steadily since its founding in 2006. The group began with four members - Brazil, Russia, India, and China - before adding South Africa in 2010. It now consists of 11 member nations and nine partner countries.

The current membership includes the original five plus Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Indonesia. Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan serve as partner countries.

India continues to balance its multilateral commitments while strengthening bilateral ties. Last week, India and New Zealand signed a defense cooperation memorandum focusing on Indo-Pacific stability during Prime Minister Luxon's visit to New Delhi. The countries also launched free trade negotiations and agreed to boost their $1.8 billion two-way trade through digital payment cooperation.

According to Jaishankar, BRICS meetings focus on finding common ground and collectively shaping global order. The platform addresses numerous international issues, including:

• UN Security Council reforms
• Counterterrorism efforts
• Climate change
• Global health and pandemic preparedness
• Trade and financial systems

Regional political matters are also discussed by BRICS members. These include the Gaza ceasefire, Lebanon situation, humanitarian crises in Sudan and Haiti, Ukraine, and Syria's territorial integrity.

When asked about varied reactions to US tariff threats, Jaishankar acknowledged that BRICS nations hold different positions based on their development levels and national interests. However, he stated their discussions aim to identify shared concerns while working toward a more representative global leadership structure.

The expansion of membership and interest from potential new members "is itself a statement of its status and importance," Jaishankar noted, countering suggestions that the group might be weakening in the face of external pressures.