FACT CHECK: BRICS is NOT Ending Strategic Cooperation with India After Modi’s US Visit

A claim has been circulating on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), stating that BRICS countries are planning to end strategic cooperation with India following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States. The claim, allegedly sourced from Chinese state media outlet CGTN, has been widely shared, including by Pakistan-based handles.

One prominent X user, Ironclad, known for spreading anti-India misinformation, posted an image with the caption:

“BRICS countries planning to end strategic cooperation with India after Modi’s US visit, CGTN reports.”

A screenshot of a purported news report with the same claim has also surfaced, fueling the speculation further.

FACT CHECK

FactCheck India investigated this claim and found it to be entirely false and misleading.

• No credible reports: There is no official report from CGTN or any other global media outlet supporting this claim. A thorough search of CGTN’s official website yielded no such news article.
• BRICS News Denies the Claim: A tweet from the official X handle of BRICS News, dated February 15, 2025, refuted the viral claim, stating:“Fake reports are circulating claiming that BRICS plans to end strategic cooperation with India following PM Modi’s US visit. BRICS is not ending its strategic cooperation with India. These reports are completely false.”

• Viral Screenshot is Fake: Upon closer inspection, the viral screenshot has been digitally manipulated. The date stamp in the image is post-dated to February 23, 2025, which indicates that the image was altered after the fact.
• Misused Image: The background image used in the viral screenshot originates from an older CGTN report dated October 25, 2024, when the Kazan Summit of BRICS was inaugurated. This proves that the image was repurposed to create a misleading narrative.

Conclusion

The claim that BRICS is planning to end strategic cooperation with India after PM Modi’s US visit is completely false. There is no official confirmation, media report, or statement supporting this claim. The viral screenshot has been digitally altered, and the image used is from an unrelated BRICS event.

This is yet another instance of misinformation being spread to create diplomatic tensions and mislead the public.

Verdict: FAKE NEWS ❌