Opinion: India and the Plausible Multilateralism of BRICS

Context

• • The 18th BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, under India’s chairship, with the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
  • The summit adopted the New Delhi Declaration, reaffirming commitment to multilateralism, multipolarity, international law and a more representative global order.
  • The article highlights a central debate: whether BRICS can evolve into a meaningful platform for multilateral cooperation despite substantial differences among its members.

1. Why is BRICS Important for India?

A. Strategic Autonomy

• • BRICS gives India a platform to engage simultaneously with China, Russia, Iran and other emerging powers.
  • It allows India to pursue diversified partnerships without making BRICS an explicitly anti-Western grouping.
  • This complements India’s engagement with the US, Quad, G20 and other multilateral platforms.

B. Global South Representation

• • India has emphasised that developing countries remain under-represented in global decision-making.
  • At the summit, India called for greater representation of the Global South, particularly in institutions such as the UN Security Council.
  • The New Delhi Declaration similarly called for greater participation of emerging and developing economies in global institutions.

2. BRICS as a Platform for Managing Differences

• • BRICS members have significant disagreements over:
    • China–India relations
    • West Asian conflicts
    • Russia–West tensions
    • economic and strategic priorities.
  • Yet the New Delhi Declaration was adopted by consensus, demonstrating that differences do not necessarily prevent cooperation on shared concerns.
  • The article therefore views “managed disagreement” as potentially more realistic than expecting complete convergence.

Key Insight

BRICS need not become a geopolitical bloc to remain useful; its value can lie in creating space for dialogue among countries with divergent interests.

3. Major Areas of Convergence

The New Delhi Declaration emphasised:

• • Reform of global governance
  • Greater representation of developing countries
  • UN and IMF/World Bank reforms
  • WTO reform and a rules-based trading system
  • Climate change and sustainable development
  • International cooperation on health and technology
  • Peace, security and humanitarian concerns.

4. India’s Diplomatic Balancing

India faces a dual requirement:

BRICS engagement + US strategic partnership

• • India’s relationship with Washington remains important for technology, defence, investment and economic cooperation.
  • At the same time, BRICS provides diplomatic space for engaging China, Russia and the wider Global South.
  • Hence, India’s approach can be understood through multi-alignment and strategic autonomy, rather than exclusive alignment with any one power.

Challenges

• • Internal geopolitical rivalries may limit collective action.
  • China’s economic and strategic weight can generate concerns among smaller members.
  • Different political systems and foreign-policy priorities make deep institutional integration difficult.
  • BRICS must therefore convert declarations into practical, measurable cooperation.

Way Forward

• • Focus on issue-based cooperation rather than ideological bloc formation.
  • Strengthen development finance, health, climate and technology cooperation.
  • Pursue gradual reforms of the UN, IMF, World Bank and WTO.
  • Maintain channels for India–China dialogue alongside BRICS.
  • Preserve India’s relations with both BRICS members and Western partners.

Conclusion

BRICS’ relevance may lie less in achieving complete political unity and more in creating a plural platform for cooperation among diverse powers. For India, this can support strategic autonomy while contributing to a more representative and multipolar international order.