The approaching BRICS Summit is set to be a major diplomatic challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, considering India’s desire to maintain good relations with various powers while securing its own strategic interests. Since Russia, China, and Iran have prominent roles in the BRICS grouping, India will have to take care of its relations with the United States as well.
DON'T MISS
A diplomatic balancing act
In the BRICS forum, there are different countries that are interested in different geopolitical and strategic interests. It gives India a chance to develop its cooperation with Russia, interact with China directly, and foster good ties with Iran. Furthermore, India has also established strategic and economic relations with the United States in sectors like defence, technology, trade, and the Indo-Pacific. Therefore, diplomacy during the BRICS Summit is vital for India.
Important partner relations with Russia
India maintains an important partnership with Russia, which is evident from its cooperation in defense, energy, and other strategic sectors. In spite of pressures from other nations because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India maintains its independent foreign policy. China adds another dimension to the equation. China might be considered the most sensitive aspect of India’s BRICS diplomacy. While India and China are both a part of the same multilateral alliance, the two remain engaged in the conflict over their borders and in strategic rivalry.
Iran and the new BRICS paradigm
Another important dimension of India’s diplomacy comes from Iran’s increasing engagement in BRICS. India traditionally showed interest in establishing strategic partnerships with Iran, which included the issues of connectivity and access to the Central Asian markets. In the context of BRICS, India’s closer ties with Iran can help India achieve its connectivity ambitions while remaining an independent player in global politics.
