External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola in New Delhi to talk about their countries’ strategic partnership and mutual interests. They emphasized the importance of enhancing their engagement through institutional mechanisms. Lamola appreciated India’s role in hosting the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and expressed South Africa’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
EAM Jaishankar is set to chair the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting on May 14-15, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs. India’s theme for its BRICS chairmanship in 2026 is ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability,’ aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a people-centric and humanity-first approach. The BRICS grouping, initially BRIC, was formalized in 2006 and expanded to include South Africa in 2010.
Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE became full members of BRICS in January 2024, followed by Indonesia in January 2025. Additionally, several countries joined BRICS as Partner Countries in 2025. The relationship between South Africa and India, established over 30 years ago, holds significant importance for both nations, with a commitment to further deepening their ties for mutual benefit.
