New delhi: Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to host the 18th BRICS summit this weekend, marking an important diplomatic engagement as Chinese President Xi Jinping visits India for the first time since 2019. The summit, which will take place in New Delhi, tests India's strategy as it concludes its year-long BRICS presidency, focusing on strengthening ties with China and Russia, while grappling with complex relations with Washington.
According to Deutsche Welle, this diplomatic effort is part of India's longstanding strategy of strategic autonomy, as highlighted by Ashok Kantha, a former Indian ambassador to China. India's participation in BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) facilitates its engagement with major global powers while pursuing its interests. However, the Modi-Xi meeting is set against a backdrop of ongoing trade deficits, border militarization, and market access disputes between India and China. The meeting is anticipated to stabilize relations but is unlikely to signify a complete diplomatic reset.
The BRICS group, which has expanded from its original five members to 11, faces internal divisions and struggles to reach consensus on international issues, including conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. The summit will also address the inclusion of Iran and the UAE, nations with differing stances on the war in Iran. Harsh Pant, vice president for Studies and Foreign Policy at the Observer Research Foundation, highlights the challenges of finding common ground within the diverse group, despite shared interests in reforming global economic governance.
India has expressed concerns about potential Chinese dominance within BRICS, advocating for greater emphasis on the needs of developing countries and reforms in global institutions like the United Nations, IMF, and World Bank. The Modi government also seeks to enhance cross-border payments and the use of national currencies in trade without attempting to replace the US dollar. Pant emphasizes that the focus is on resilience and alternatives rather than de-dollarization.
The upcoming summit is a crucial moment for India to demonstrate its influence and navigate its "America Plus" strategy, which involves balancing ties with the West, Russia, and China. C Raja Mohan, a strategic affairs analyst, warns of the challenges posed by intensifying great-power rivalries and the potential for an anti-Western stance within BRICS. The Delhi summit will test India's ability to advance its BRICS priorities while avoiding domination by China or a shift towards anti-Western sentiments.