The BRICS imperative for India

Twenty heads of State and 36 delegations were in Kazan this week to kick off the 16th Brics summit, the first since the expansion of the five-member grouping last year when Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were granted membership into the organisation. This plurilateral grouping of emerging economies represents more than 35% 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. 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 aims to promote multipolarity 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. Brics for India is a pivotal plurilateral as it reflects New Delhi’s multipolar worldview and acts as a platform for strengthening its global standing. Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s visit to Kazan underscores the importance of Brics in India’s foreign policy calculus.