New Delhi, Aug 24: India is set to face a delicate diplomatic challenge as it prepares to host the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, with differences among member countries over global trade, the US dollar, the Gaza conflict and international governance likely to test the grouping’s ability to reach consensus.
The summit comes at a time of growing geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Russia, China and countries in West Asia. India, which maintains important strategic and economic relationships with several of these powers, is expected to focus on finding common ground while protecting its own interests.
Russia and China have been advocating a greater role for national currencies in international trade and a reduced dependence on the US dollar. Such discussions are expected to remain an important part of the BRICS agenda as the grouping seeks to increase cooperation among emerging economies.However, India has maintained a cautious approach to proposals that could be seen as directly challenging the existing global financial system.
New Delhi has simultaneously expanded its strategic partnership with Washington while retaining close ties with Moscow.The situation is further complicated by disagreements over the conflicts in West Asia.
Some BRICS members have called for stronger international action on the Gaza crisis, while India has sought to maintain relations with Israel and at the same time supported humanitarian assistance for Palestinians and a negotiated two-state solution.
The expanded BRICS membership has also brought together countries with different foreign-policy priorities. The presence of Iran and the United Arab Emirates, which have distinct relationships with major global powers, illustrates the complexity facing the grouping.Tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz have added another layer to the geopolitical situation.
The strategically important waterway is a major route for global energy shipments, and any prolonged disruption could affect oil prices, shipping and economies dependent on energy imports.India has a direct interest in maintaining stability in the region because it relies significantly on West Asian countries for energy supplies and has extensive trade and people-to-people links with the region.
The changing geopolitical environment has also encouraged Russia and China to explore alternative trade and transport routes that could reduce their dependence on vulnerable maritime chokepoints.
The Northern Sea Route through the Arctic has emerged as one such option, although its commercial expansion faces significant logistical and environmental challenges.India, meanwhile, is pursuing its own connectivity initiatives, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), aimed at strengthening links between South Asia, the Gulf region and Europe.Against this backdrop, the Delhi summit is expected to highlight India’s policy of strategic autonomy.
New Delhi is likely to seek language that accommodates the concerns of different BRICS members without turning the forum into an overt platform against the United States or its allies.The success of the summit could therefore depend largely on India’s ability to negotiate a balanced joint declaration covering contentious issues such as international currencies, global governance, West Asian conflicts and economic cooperation.
For India, the meeting offers an opportunity to demonstrate its diplomatic influence and position itself as a bridge between competing geopolitical camps. At the same time, failure to build consensus could expose the differences within the expanded BRICS grouping.
The summit will thus be closely watched as a test of India’s ability to balance its relationships with major powers while advancing the interests of the wider developing world.
