Colombia discusses BRICS membership with India

Colombia has discussed its plans with India to become a BRICS member. Speaking to WION’s Sidhant Sibal, Colombia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jorge Enrique Rojas Rodriguez said, “We came to India to have a discussion and to know the opinion of India. We are also in touch with South Africa and Brazil, and we feel this will give a boost to global south ties”.

The development comes ahead of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia next week. The Colombian minister was in Delhi for the 10th India-Colombia Foreign Office Consultations during which discussions happened on trade, energy, pharma, infra including railways, and health. The country has also shown interest in the Indian initiative of the global biofuel alliance. 

Sidhant Sibal: My first question to you is about the Foreign Office consultations. What was the focus?

Jorge Rojas Rodríguez: We are planning to join forces in a strategic alliance with India in order to combat climate change, renewable energies and biofuels. We are also looking to diversify our exports because we want to produce more food and use the technology of India in order to produce this. We have signed a very important MOU for co-production where cinema is concerned because we feel that audio-visual has great potential in India.

Sidhant Sibal: Colombia is working with India in the area of energy transition and renewable energies, what kind of cooperation are we looking at?

Jorge Rojas Rodríguez: India has proposed an alternative, between fossil fuels and renewable energy. It has tried to propose an energy of biofuels. We want to strengthen the leadership and we want to have a just energy transition. 

Sidhant Sibal: Global biofuel alliance proposed by India. Does Colombia want to be part of that?

Jorge Rojas Rodríguez: Want to explore these two possibilities, this alliance of biofuels, as well as the Solar Alliance. And we really appreciate the efforts of India in this regard.

Sidhant Sibal: You mentioned the MOU in terms of audio-visual cooperation, and co-production, essentially. So if you can detail this MOU that has been signed between India and Colombia co-production..

Jorge Rojas Rodríguez: This is one of the most positive things about this visit. We really admire co-production in this field in India. And we would like the film series to be co-produced so that they can bring the two countries together. And we are also seeing that there’s a sentiment of joy in the artists of the two countries. 

Sidhant Sibal: Does Colombia want to be part of the BRICS grouping, and has this request, been raised with the Indian side?

Jorge Rojas Rodríguez: Colombian President Gustavo Petro and President Lula da Silva talked in Bogota about the possible entry of Colombia into BRICS. We are still exploring this subject. And for this reason, we came to India to have a discussion and to know the opinion of India. We are also in touch with South Africa and Brazil, and we feel this will give a boost to global south ties, and the entry of Colombia into BRICS will also happen after discussions and exploration.

Sidhant Sibal: What kind of conversations you had with India for BRICS membership?

Jorge Rojas Rodríguez: There were a lot of interests and expectations, and also the world should see this phenomenon from the point of view of the Global South. We also have to explore these points of view with other countries as well.