‘Not regular activity’: MEA on why India skipped BRICS naval drills; cites IBSAMAR

India clarified its non-participation in a recent South African-led naval exercise involving some BRICS nations, stating it was not an official BRICS activity. The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that the drill was a South African initiative, unlike the regular IBSAMAR exercise India conducts with Brazil and South Africa. India currently chairs the expanded BRICS bloc.