New delhi: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to host the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi this weekend, welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping to India for the first time since 2019. The summit presents a pivotal moment for India as it navigates its year-long BRICS presidency, marked by increased engagement with China and Russia, while its relationship with Washington remains complex.
According to Deutsche Welle, Modi recently met both Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 31 and September 1. Just two weeks later, Modi will see them again in New Delhi for the BRICS summit. However, with BRICS expanding in size and facing internal divisions, the forum could potentially limit Modi's diplomatic achievements.
Indian diplomats are working to maintain their strategic autonomy amid a shifting international order. Ashok Kantha, a former Indian ambassador to China, emphasized that India's engagement with BRICS and the SCO is a key part of New Delhi's strategy. Kantha noted that these groupings provide India with a platform to pursue its interests while managing relationships with major powers.
Yet, as Modi prepares to host Xi in New Delhi, tensions between India and China persist. Despite reaching a border patrol agreement in 2024, ending a prolonged military standoff, significant challenges remain, including a substantial trade deficit and disputes over market access. The Modi-Xi meeting is anticipated for potential diplomatic progress, particularly in trade and investment.
The expansion of BRICS from its original five members to 11 has highlighted the challenges of consensus-building within the group. With diverse nations like Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia, and Egypt, BRICS leaders grapple with differing relationships with the US and varying interests in global conflicts. The inclusion of Iran and the UAE further complicates matters, as demonstrated by the lack of consensus on a joint statement on the Middle East crisis earlier this year.
Harsh Pant, vice president for Studies and Foreign Policy at the Observer Research Foundation, pointed out the difficulties in finding common ground within BRICS, citing differences between members like Iran and the UAE. Despite these challenges, BRICS continues to explore areas of shared interest, such as reforming global economic governance.
The future of BRICS is also influenced by the rivalry between India and China. India seeks to address the concerns of developing countries and advocate for reform in global institutions, while avoiding a China-led challenge to the West. India is pushing for easier cross-border payments and increased use of national currencies in trade, but without aiming to replace the US dollar.
India's diplomatic strategy, described by strategic affairs analyst C Raja Mohan as "America Plus," involves maintaining strong economic and strategic ties with the US while deepening relations with Russia and China. However, as great-power rivalry intensifies, this balancing act becomes increasingly challenging.
The Delhi summit will test India's ability to advance its BRICS priorities and maintain international maneuverability without allowing the group to be dominated by China or become an anti-Western platform.