By Mahendra Ved
New Delhi. It was expected to collapse, “like a ton of bricks”. It has not just survived, but more countries want to join it. The success of the 16th BRICS summit — the grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — belies the cynical view expressed by the Western world that, ironically, blessed it initially in 2006.
Incidentally, its birth was proposed at the G8 Summit (when Russia was a member) in Saint Petersburg with Vladimir Putin as the host. He was also the host at Kazan last month.
This multilateral grouping of emerging economies represents over 35 per cent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and half of the world’s population. With prospects for further expansion and with discontent brewing among emerging economies about a fragmented geo-economic order not addressing their needs, the global salience of the BRICS grouping has only increased; this year’s theme for the BRICS, “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security”, captured this reality.
Let us look at BRICS’ strength. The group’s combined GDP at purchasing power parity today surpasses that of the G7. What is perhaps more significant is that BRICS is growing. There are two main reasons for this: firstly, BRICS is not a rich man’s club; all are welcome; second, a growing number of countries are tired of having to go along with a global agenda set by a handful of powerful Western countries.
The Global South, which covers much of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, cannot be oblivious to the economic vagaries that come each time there is a conflict and sanctions come into play. Currently, sanctions on Russia, post-Ukraine, have impacted oil and farm product supplies and the rising prices have wrought havoc on many national economies.
As per a study by Statistica, a global portal of market data and economy, both the Gaza and Ukraine conflicts show that the West has become an overbearing hegemon and the whole world suffers at the expense of its mistakes whether it be tight monetary policies in the US, the war in Europe or sanctions that hurt the poorest the most. The unipolar world is not just giving way to a multipolar one but one that will stand against any manner of hegemony. Even the more powerful in BRICS are aware of this reality.
The summit in Kazan was a landmark event for India, the group’s original member, because it broke the ice with China. President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after five years of military and diplomatic tensions.
Over the years, shifts in the global geo-economic landscape, in light of rising tariffs, protectionist measures, and sanctions imposed by the West and its allies have resulted in a growing attraction for BRICS. One of the pull factors for nations is the fact the BRICS has emerged as a major non-Western platform and is viewed as a more democratic structure with the group becoming a constellation of non-Western powers that aim to promote multi-polarity and generally accessible, inclusive economic globalisation. Further, the organisation’s flexibility is another pull factor, which does not come with conditionalities for membership. Thus, it is no surprise that another 30 countries want to join the organisation.
India has been shaping the BRICS agenda and outcome according to its priorities. India, along with countries like Brazil and South Africa, does not want to keep all its eggs in one basket by depending solely on the West and wants its foreign policy choices to be shaped by the principles of strategic autonomy and multi-polarity, for which BRICS is pivotal. It is because of their balanced positions on global issues that they have dispelled misperceptions of BRICS being an anti-West organisation and have rather shifted the focus of the organisation towards amplifying the voices and interests of the Global South by focusing on issues such as the climate crisis, economic development, and social equity.
Further, India has contributed significantly to enhancing BRICS cooperation on finance, trade, agriculture, education, counter-terrorism, anti-corruption, and security in the use of ICTs. With the expansion of BRICS, India has found like-minded countries that perceive the international system through a similar lens, including countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Yet, India is aware that China wants to be the new global hegemon and is not going to accept it even as it improves bilateral ties. India is not going to join an anti-West group, which China and Russia want to turn BRICS into because that doesn’t fit into India’s view of multi-polarity
One explanation is that the US and its allies, contrary to what the media may project, do want India, an ally that they hope will play their Trojan horse in BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and other strategic and trade that China and/or Russia promote. They feel that New Delhi can function as a counterweight or at least a moderating influence. And indeed they even encourage it behind the scenes.
Like India, all these countries have not joined the sanctions regime against Russia nor do they wholly advocate for de-dollarisation as Russia and China do. These countries, along with New Delhi, view the strengthening of their respective currencies in the global financial landscape as their long-term goal.
The summit culminated in the release of a 134-point declaration titled the Kazan Declaration, which called for improving global governance by promoting an accountable multilateral system where the voice of the Global South is amplified. Further, India’s candidacy to host COP33 in 2028 was welcomed. India’s BRICS-led initiatives received special mention, such as the BRICS R&D Vaccine Centre, the BRICS start-up forum, and the BRICS counter-terrorism action plan.
The declaration called for cooperation to prevent and counter terrorist threats with respect paid to the principles enshrined in the UN charter; it further mentioned the cross-border movement of terrorists and called for the listing of all UN-designated terrorists and terrorist entities. Emphasis was laid on digital public infrastructure and on transport infrastructure where, for the first time, the question of sovereignty and integrity of countries while enhancing transport potential found reference in the declaration.
For New Delhi, BRICS has also emerged as an important venue for interaction with key players. Modi’s meeting with Putin saw a discussion on bilateral issues, including the repatriation of the remaining Indian citizens serving in the Russian army, expediting of the construction of the remaining nuclear reactors in the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, cooperation in the financial sector, and sustaining supply chains for the import of coal and fertiliser.
Modi further reiterated India’s commitment to a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine. He also met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and discussed matters related to connectivity, especially the Chabahar port. As India seeks a greater say on the global stage, platforms like the BRICS, despite their inherent limitations, allow New Delhi to amplify its profile and work with other nations on key issues of interest.
