India and the plausible multilateralism of BRICS
The very structure of BRICS offers India space to pursue strategic autonomy amid intensifying great-power rivalries
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Context
The recent summit in New Delhi highlighted the grouping's complex dynamics and India's strategic balancing act. While skeptics point to internal divisions, particularly concerning Russia and China, and advocates emphasize its potential for multipolarity, India navigates this space to maintain strategic autonomy while avoiding becoming a pawn in great-power rivalry. The summit also underscored the role of multilateral platforms in managing bilateral tensions, as seen with India and China, and the UAE and Iran.
UPSC Perspectives
International Relations
The article provides a nuanced view of multialignment, a cornerstone of India's contemporary foreign policy. This approach, often characterized as "sabke sath" (with everyone), involves engaging with multiple, sometimes competing, power centers to maximize national interest. serves as a crucial platform for this strategy, allowing India to engage with Russia and China while maintaining its vital strategic partnership with the . This balancing act is essential for India to avoid the pitfalls of becoming a "frontline state" in great-power competition, a scenario that historically has detrimental consequences for the state caught in the middle. The summit's success in forging a consensus among diverse members, including those in conflict (UAE and Iran), demonstrates the utility of such platforms in managing bilateral friction. UPSC often asks about the evolution of India's foreign policy from non-alignment to strategic autonomy and multialignment; understanding the practical application of these concepts within groupings like is critical.
Geopolitics
The editorial underscores the concept of competitive coexistence, particularly in the context of India-China relations. and the offer valuable multilateral forums for engagement when high-level bilateral ties are strained. This engagement acts as a crucial guardrail against deepening mistrust and the resulting security dilemma, where actions taken by a state to increase its own security cause reactions from other states, which in turn leads to a decrease rather than an increase in the original state's security. By maintaining communication channels, even amidst border disputes, these platforms help manage a complex and troubled relationship. Furthermore, the convergence of members against unilateralism, despite their internal differences on other global issues, highlights a shared pursuit of a more representative and multipolar global order. This shared interest, often driven by negative experiences with Western dominance, forms the foundation of external convergence within the grouping. For Mains, analyzing the role of multilateral institutions in mitigating bilateral conflict is a key area of focus.
Strategic Affairs
The article critiques the predictability of the ' approach, arguing it prioritizes its own dominance, which has led several members to seek alternative paths. India's recent experiences, including varying tariffs and economic fallout from the US-Israel conflict in West Asia, illustrate the complexities of this relationship. While the strategic partnership with Washington remains crucial, the article emphasizes that India must not succumb to an "unequal great-power alliance" or become a pawn in the US-China rivalry. The ability of to provide India with multiple pathways for its rise, without adopting an anti-US agenda, is a central theme. The contrast between Ukraine, lacking a direct platform with Russia, and the UAE-Iran engagement on the sidelines of , highlights the strategic value of these multilateral spaces for diplomatic maneuvering. UPSC questions frequently focus on India's strategic options in an increasingly multipolar world and its efforts to secure its national interests while navigating the US-China dynamic.