In this day and age of shifting geopolitical orientation, India leverages BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) to assert its leadership in a multipolar world. From green diplomacy to countering global powers, India’s strategy within BRICS and BRICS+ highlights its commitment to multilateralism, sustainable development, and strategic autonomy. This article analyses India’s proactive role in shaping a balanced global order.
BY LT GEN A B SHIVANE (RETD)
FOR THE NEWS ANALYTICS JOURNAL
a 4 mins read.
In an era marked by shifting geopolitical alignments, India has been proactive in advancing its role within BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) to navigate a multipolar world. BRICS, originally an economic bloc of emerging markets, has evolved into a strategic platform for these nations to engage in multilateral dialogue and cooperation. For India, BRICS serves as a crucial avenue to pursue a balanced foreign policy, maintain strategic autonomy, and counter the influence of major powers like the United States and China. India’s approach to BRICS, however, is not confined to its interactions with these two global superpowers. It involves a broader vision of leading the Global South, promoting sustainable development, and advancing multilateralism.
ASTUTE DIPLOMACY
India’s multilateral diplomacy within BRICS showcases its commitment to shaping global narratives, particularly in reforming international institutions that reflect outdated post-World War II realities. The United Nations, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank, though pivotal in the past, no longer accurately represent the interests of developing economies, a sentiment India shares with other BRICS members.
In BRICS, India advocates for the reform of these institutions to give developing countries a greater say in global governance. By building coalitions within BRICS, it has positioned itself as a voice for the Global South. These diplomatic engagements have also provided a contrast to China’s often coercive diplomacy, positioning India as a constructive and responsible global leader.
Through BRICS, India champions multilateralism as the solution to global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and trade reform. This narrative resonates with many developing nations and strengthens India’s leadership role in shaping a more inclusive global governance framework.
India highlights its drive to reform outdated global institutions, promoting fairer representation for developing economies in BRICS. This strengthens its leadership among emerging nations.
STRATEGIC AUTONOMY
India’s leadership in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) is another key component of its multilateral strategy within BRICS. The ISA, which India and France co-launched in 2015, aims to promote solar energy in sun-rich nations and encourage collaboration on clean energy initiatives. By integrating the ISA into the BRICS agenda, India underscores its commitment to sustainable development and renewable energy solutions.
The ISA is a cornerstone of India’s broader green diplomacy, positioning the country as a leader in the global energy transition. It provides a counter-narrative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which often focuses on traditional energy infrastructure. India’s advocacy of the ISA in BRICS allows it to showcase its leadership in providing innovative, environmentally friendly solutions that resonate with both developed and developing nations.
One of the central tenets of India’s foreign policy is strategic autonomy, an independent approach to global affairs that does not align fully with any one power. Within BRICS, India’s participation sends a strong message to both the United States and China. For the U.S., India’s active engagement with BRICS signifies its intent to pursue an independent foreign policy that does not follow Washington’s directives. India’s relationship with the U.S. remains essential, particularly in defence, technology, and trade; however, BRICS provides India with a platform to engage with other emerging economies without being anchored to Western-dominated institutions like the G7.
Regarding China, India’s role within BRICS is more nuanced. While India and China share a seat in BRICS, India has consistently worked to ensure that the group is not dominated by Chinese economic and geopolitical ambitions. BRICS provides India with a forum to counterbalance China’s influence and ensure that the global governance structures reflect the interests of all member states, not just China. India’s message to both the U.S. and China through BRICS is clear: it seeks to maintain its strategic autonomy while fostering multipolarity.
INDIA’S STRATEGIC INTERESTS
Africa has become an important arena for influence, with both China and India competing for economic and political leverage on the continent. China’s Belt and Road Initiative has made significant inroads into African infrastructure, but India has countered this influence by promoting more transparent, sustainable development partnerships.
India’s strategy within BRICS emphasizes capacity-building, education, and sustainable development in Africa. At BRICS summits, India has continually advocated for development programs that avoid debt dependency, contrasting with China’s loan-driven model. India’s approach strengthens its diplomatic ties with African nations, enabling it to challenge China’s growing presence in the region while presenting itself as a more responsible and transparent partner.
India has consistently opposed Pakistan’s inclusion in BRICS, citing its involvement in terrorism and destabilising actions in the region. Despite China’s efforts to include Pakistan, India has consistently blocked such attempts, ensuring that BRICS remains focused on economic development rather than becoming a platform for geopolitical rivalries. India’s opposition to Pakistan’s inclusion aligns with its broader diplomatic strategy of isolating Pakistan on the global stage, particularly in counterterrorism forums. By ensuring exclusion from BRICS, India sends a clear message: it will not compromise its national security concerns on multilateral platforms.
Similarly, India’s opposition to Turkey’s inclusion in BRICS+ is rooted in a combination of geopolitical, strategic, and diplomatic concerns. Turkey’s close ties with Pakistan, particularly regarding the Kashmir issue, have led to tensions, as Turkey often supports Pakistan’s stance, which India views as interference in its internal affairs. Additionally, as a NATO member, Turkey has strong Western alliances, occasionally clashing with BRICS’ efforts to create a non-Western balance in global affairs. Turkey’s assertive foreign policy in regions like the Middle East and Central Asia sometimes conflicts with the interests of BRICS members, particularly India.
Moreover, India and other BRICS nations are cautious about expanding the bloc too rapidly, as they fear it could dilute their cohesion and shared goals; Turkey’s entry, with its active foreign policy stance, could complicate BRICS’ strategic direction. For India, BRICS remains primarily a platform for economic cooperation and multipolar balance rather than direct opposition to Western alliances. Turkey’s inclusion could shift this balance, potentially making BRICS more politically confrontational, which does not align with India’s vision for the bloc.
India stands firm on its central point of maintaining the BRICS platform of economic cooperation and balanced multilateralism from turning into a geopolitical rivalry by opposing Pakistan and Turkey’s entry into BRICS.
CHALLENGES ON THE HORIZON
Despite its growing influence, BRICS+ faces several challenges. Economic disparities among member states, geopolitical tensions (such as between India and China or Iran and Saudi Arabia), and strong economic linkages with the West could impede the bloc’s ability to present a united front.
For BRICS+ to succeed in creating a multipolar financial future, member nations must overcome these challenges and build trust among themselves. While the group is not a direct rival to the U.S.-led system, its success would signal the limits of Western dominance and highlight the need for a more inclusive and equitable global order. It also reflects a strong voice of the Global South led by India.
India’s strategy within BRICS reflects its broader commitment to multilateralism and strategic autonomy. By leveraging platforms like BRICS and BRICS+, India asserts itself as a leading voice in shaping the global financial and geopolitical landscape. Through initiatives like the International Solar Alliance, green diplomacy, and sustainable development, India positions itself as a responsible global leader in an increasingly multipolar world. The future of BRICS and India’s role within it will be instrumental in determining the contours of global governance for decades to come.
(Lt Gen A B Shivane (Retd), Former DG Mechanised Forces Indian Army. TEDx Speaker, Strategic Defence Consultant, Analyst & Corporate Mentor. The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The News Analytics Journal.)
