South African High Commissioner Anil Sooklal says South Africa is “excited” for India’s 2026 BRICS chairmanship, expecting New Delhi to bring the same momentum it showed during its G20 presidency. He said India’s leadership will arrive at a crucial moment for the global community.
Sooklal highlighted India’s track record, noting that its BRICS chairpersonship “comes at a critical time in the world community’s current situation.”
Sooklal said, “As the BRICS family, we are very excited by India’s chairmanship of BRICS, starting first of January 2026 because we know the energy that India brings to the table. We saw that during the G20 presidency in India, and I expect the same kind of energy to be brought to the table by India.”
He added, “India is taking the BRICS chairmanship at a very critical time. The global community is, in many senses, at an inflexion point and in need of leadership. India at present is one of the few countries with a positive trust factor in its favour with both countries of the global north and countries of the global South.”
Sooklal also criticised the weaponisation of trade, saying it has hit BRICS economies hard. “It’s unfortunate that trade has been weaponised in this day and age, and BRICS countries are being severely impacted, including India and South Africa, which face 50% tariffs, which are impacting people’s livelihoods. It’s driving more people into poverty, and it’s impacting the development of our countries,” he said.
He argued that BRICS can no longer be sidelined, noting that the alliance now plays a significant role in shaping global debates — from financial stability to security challenges. “Today, you cannot ignore BRICS, and in many senses, BRICS is surpassing entities of the Global North. BRICS is not just about the global South, because all of these issues that we address has to do with the global community as a whole, whether it’s the global financial challenges we have the global economy in terms of peace and security, including terrorism, and how we collectively address the scourge of terrorism that’s reared its ugly head here in Delhi a few days ago,” he said.
Sooklal expressed confidence that India and South Africa would closely coordinate ahead of the summit. “We’re very confident that India will work very closely with the presidency of South Africa to ensure a successful summit, a substantive Summit, even though we may not have a full house in terms of attendance, but as I have said, we are confident that South Africa will host a successful summit, and with our partners like India, a substantive outcome,” he said.
In the photo above: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the plenary session “Environment, COP30 and Global Health” during the BRICS Leaders Summit at the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) in Rio de Janeiro. July 7, 2025.
Photo: Aline Massuca/BRICS Brazil
