India, Sept. 13 -- The New Delhi BRICS Declaration places three words side by side that do not always sit comfortably together in technology architecture: sovereign, self-reliant, and interoperable.

Its digital vision suggests that sovereignty does not mean technological isolation. Instead, BRICS appears to be seeking greater national control and technological capability while retaining interoperability across digital public infrastructure, international networks, future technologies and ICT supply chains.

BRICS says it wants deeper cooperation towards a "sovereign and self-reliant digital ecosystem". Yet the same provision underscores the potential of "resilient, safe, secure, inclusive and interoperable digital public infrastructure"....