India’s BRICS’ Dilemma: Multi-Alignment and Flexibility Without a Clear Global South Vision. Part 2.

India’s central challenge is not the existence of contradictory partnerships. Great powers routinely manage competing relationships. The deeper problem is the absence of a clearly articulated geopolitical vision capable of reconciling those relationships with India’s claims to defend multipolarity, sovereignty, and a Global South leader.

India’s real challenge isn’t juggling conflicting partnerships, as major powers do that all the time. The problem is the lack of a clear vision that connects these relationships to India’s stated goals of multipolarity, sovereignty, fairer world order, and a Global South leadership. This gap is most visible in India’s neighbourhood, deepening ties with Israel, and its positions in BRICS, although I was surprised with its some new positioning in the group at the BRICS summit a few days ago in New Delhi. I read it as geopolitics imposing itself. This piece as written before the BRICS summit, and therefore, some inconsistencies might be possible regarding India’s foreign policy.

Regional Power Without Regional Leadership

India’s size, economy, and military strength give it influence in South Asia, but influence doesn’t equal leadership. True leadership also needs legitimacy, trust, active institution-building, and a willingness to address neighbours’ interests.

The region is growing more complex. Pakistan is deepening defence ties with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and China, while Bangladesh is working more closely with Beijing and Pakistan. These moves aren’t an anti-India coalition, but they show that neighbours are seeking options beyond India, not simply accepting its dominance.

India often reacts to these developments with anxiety, framing Chinese activity in the region as encirclement. Yet, when India partners with the US, Israel, Europe, or the Quad, it frames these ties as legitimate strategic choices.

A fairer approach would ask if smaller countries have the same right to diversify ties, recognizing their sovereignty just as India expects its own choices to be respected.

Regional credibility takes more than military power. Issues like border disputes, water-sharing, migration, and political interference have strained India’s ties with neighbours. If India wants to lead the Global South, it can’t treat its neighbours as mere strategic buffers.

The Contradictions of Strategic Flexibility

India’s multi-alignment makes sense, as New Delhi wants access to Western technology, Russian oil and defence ties, stable China relations, and influence in the Global South. Dropping any of these isn’t realistic.

But problems arise when strategic flexibility is treated as a principle, not a tool. India can’t claim to defend multipolarity and sovereignty for the Global South while deepening ties with Israel and the US, yet remaining silent when those partners’ actions hurt other Global South........

© New Eastern Outlook