India and the plausible multilateralism of BRICS

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. BRICS serves as a crucial platform for this strategy, allowing India to engage with Russia and China while maintaining its vital strategic partnership with the United States. 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 BRICS is critical.

The editorial underscores the concept of competitive coexistence, particularly in the context of India-China relations. BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) 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 BRICS 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.

The article critiques the predictability of the United States' approach, arguing it prioritizes its own dominance, which has led several BRICS 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 BRICS 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 BRICS, 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.