In e na ional Jou nal o Resea ch (IJR)
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Vol. 12 Issue 09
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India’s B ics S a egy: Walking he Tigh ope o Au onomy and Alliance
Colonel Piyush Chand a
Indian A my
[email p o ec ed]
Abs ac
India’s engagemen wi h he BRICS g ouping, comp ising B azil, Russia, India, China, and
Sou h A ica, e lec s a complex balancing ac be ween os e ing non-Wes e n mul ila e al
solida i y and p ese ing s a egic au onomy. This a icle examines India’s BRICS s a egy
h ough he dual lens o ealis in e na ional ela ions heo y and i s his o ical commi men o
s a egic au onomy, e ol ing om Neh u ian non-alignmen o p esen -day mul i-alignmen .
While India sha es BRICS’ objec i es o e o ming global go e nance ins i u ions and
ampli ying he oice o he Global Sou h, i emains cau ious o China’s dominan posi ion
wi hin he bloc and wa y o being d awn in o an o e ly an i-Wes e n coali ion. The pape
analyses India’s pa icipa ion in BRICS summi s, i s ole in ini ia i es such as he New
De elopmen Bank (NDB), and i s nuanced s ance on issues like he Russia-Uk aine wa and
he Bel and Road Ini ia i e (BRI). I con as s India’s BRICS engagemen s wi h pa allel
alignmen s such as he Quad and G20, a guing ha India uses pla o m diplomacy o
maximize geopoli ical lexibili y. The s udy concludes ha India’s u u e in BRICS will
depend on i s abili y o manage in a-bloc i al ies while p ojec ing leade ship among Global
Sou h na ions. The indings ha e implica ions o India’s o eign policy doc ine and o
unde s anding mul ipola i y in he e ol ing wo ld o de .
Keywo ds - S a egic Au onomy, BRICS, Indian Fo eign Policy, Mul ipola i y, Non-
Alignmen 2.0, Global Sou h
In oduc ion
In an e a ma ked by he e osion o unipola i y and he ise o compe ing global powe
cen es, mul ila e al pla o ms like BRICS (B azil, Russia, India, China, Sou h A ica) ha e
eme ged as in luen ial ehicles o p omo ing a mul ipola wo ld o de . Fo med in he la e
2000s as an economic bloc o eme ging powe s, BRICS has g adually e ol ed in o a b oade
In e na ional Jou nal o Resea ch (IJR)
e-ISSN: 2348-6848
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Vol. 12 Issue 09
Sep embe 2025
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Re ised: 25 Sep embe 2025
Accep ed:28 Sep embe 2025
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s a egic o um ha challenges he dominance o Wes e n-led ins i u ions and no ms. Fo
India, BRICS ep esen s a pa adox: i is simul aneously a pla o m o ampli y he oice o he
Global Sou h and a space whe e India mus na iga e complex powe asymme ies,
pa icula ly wi h China. This duali y de ines India’s s a egic calculus wi hin BRICS which is
oo ed in a desi e o os e non-Wes e n solida i y while p ese ing i s au onomy in a
con es ed global o de .
India’s pos -independence o eign policy was long guided by he p inciple o s a egic
au onomy, a legacy o Neh u ian non-alignmen ha emphasized independence om Cold
Wa -e a blocs. While he concep has e ol ed—pa icula ly in he pos -Cold Wa con ex —i
emains a co e ene o Indian diplomacy (Hall, 2019). Con empo a y Indian o eign policy
exhibi s a mo e p agma ic e sion o his au onomy: mul i-alignmen , o issue-based
coope a ion wi h di e se ac o s. This lexible app oach allows India o deepen ies wi h bo h
he Wes (e.g., h ough he QUAD, G7, and I2U2) and he non-Wes e n wo ld (e.g., BRICS
and he Shanghai Coope a ion O ganisa ion). India’s pa icipa ion in BRICS e lec s his
mul i- ec o app oach. On one hand, i suppo s he BRICS agenda o p omo ing e o m in
in e na ional inancial ins i u ions, boos ing Sou h-Sou h coope a ion, and esis ing
unila e alism. On he o he , i mus con end wi h China’s inc easing asse i eness, Russia’s
s a egic pi o owa d Beijing, and he ideological posi ioning o some BRICS membe s is-
à- is he Wes . These in e nal di e gences we e on display du ing ecen BRICS expansions
and discussions a ound he Uk aine con lic , whe e India has a emp ed o s ike a neu al
posi ion ha se es bo h i s na ional in e es and i s global s anding.
This pape in es iga es how India manages his igh ope by le e aging BRICS o champion a
mul ipola wo ld while sa egua ding i s s a egic independence. I begins by ou lining he
heo e ical unde pinnings o India’s o eign policy o ien a ion, wi h a pa icula ocus on
s a egic au onomy and mul i-alignmen . The nex sec ion del es in o India’s objec i es and
ole wi hin BRICS, examining key mechanisms such as he New De elopmen Bank and he
Con ingen Rese e A angemen . The pape hen assesses he in e nal con adic ions wi hin
BRICS, especially conce ning China-India ensions and di e ging geopoli ical in e es s. A
u he sec ion analyses how India balances i s BRICS engagemen s wi h Wes e n
alignmen s, including i s s a egic pa ne ships wi h he Uni ed S a es, Eu opean Union, and
In e na ional Jou nal o Resea ch (IJR)
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Indo-Paci ic allies. I also aises impo an policy ques ions, is-à- is, Can India con inue o
hedge e ec i ely be ween compe ing coali ions and whe he BRICS will emain a iable
pla o m o Global Sou h leade ship, o will in e nal con adic ions e ode i s s a egic
cohe ence?
Th ough his analysis, he pape a gues ha India’s BRICS s a egy is no a bina y choice
be ween Eas and Wes bu a sophis ica ed exe cise in pla o m diplomacy whe ein i engages
ac oss mul iple, o en compe ing, mul ila e al g oupings o maximize in luence wi hou
o e commi ing o any single geopoli ical bloc (Pa ick e al, 2025). The conclusions d awn
sugges ha while BRICS will emain an impo an pa o India’s o eign policy oolki , i s
u ili y will depend on India’s abili y o main ain issue-based coali ions, asse i s na ional
in e es s, and a oid en apmen in i al ies ha unde mine i s au onomy. Gi en he e ol ing
na u e o global geopoli ics comp ising g ea -powe compe i ion, egional agmen a ion, and
ins i u ional a igue, India’s app oach o BRICS o e s b oade lessons on na iga ing
mul ipola i y in he 21s cen u y.
Theo e ical F amewo k: S a egic Au onomy, Non-Alignmen 2.0, and Mul i-Alignmen
India’s o eign policy ajec o y has long been shaped by he p inciple o s a egic au onomy
which is he abili y o independen ly de e mine i s na ional in e es s and o eign engagemen s
wi hou undue in luence om ex e nal powe s. This concep , oo ed in India’s pos colonial
expe ience and i s ounding diploma ic philosophy o non-alignmen du ing he Cold Wa ,
con inues o unde pin India’s in e na ional s a egy e en as global eali ies e ol e (ICWA
2023).
S a egic Au onomy: F om Non-Alignmen o Mul i-Alignmen
O iginally a icula ed by P ime Minis e Jawaha lal Neh u in he mid-20 h cen u y, non-
alignmen aimed o keep India ee om he pola ized Cold Wa blocs led by he Uni ed
S a es and he So ie Union. This policy was mo e han me e neu ali y; i was an asse ion o
India’s so e eign igh o cha an independen cou se in in e na ional a ai s, e lec ing bo h
a no ma i e commi men o peace ul coexis ence and a p agma ic s a egy o sa egua d
na ional secu i y and de elopmen p io i ies (Rajee 2025). In he pos -Cold Wa e a, he
igid bina y o non-alignmen has been supplan ed by mo e lexible concep s such as mul i-
In e na ional Jou nal o Resea ch (IJR)
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alignmen o s a egic au onomy 2.0. These app oaches acknowledge he complexi y o a
mul ipola wo ld, whe e s a egic in e es s o en equi e engagemen wi h mul iple, and
some imes compe ing, powe s. India’s pa icipa ion in a ange o mul ila e al o ums—
including BRICS, he Quad, he Shanghai Coope a ion O ganisa ion (SCO), and he G20—
illus a es his plu alis ic engagemen (Bha acha ya 2024). Mul i-alignmen enables India o
hedge i s be s, capi alizing on pa ne ships wi h bo h Wes e n democ acies and non-Wes e n
ac o s o maximize i s diploma ic le e age and economic oppo uni ies.
Realism and Cons uc i ism: Analy ical Pe spec i es
F om an in e na ional ela ions (IR) heo y s andpoin , India’s s a egy can be analysed
h ough he lenses o ealism and cons uc i ism, which o e complemen a y explana ions
o India’s beha iou in BRICS and beyond. Realism emphasizes powe dynamics, na ional
in e es , and he ana chic na u e o he in e na ional sys em. F om his pe spec i e, India’s
cau ious app oach o BRICS, pa icula ly i s wa iness o China’s dominan ole, is a
e lec ion o powe balancing. India seeks o a oid o e dependence on any single bloc while
secu ing s a egic ad an ages h ough di e se pa ne ships (Mea sheime , 2001).
Cons uc i ism, by con as , highligh s he ole o ideas, no ms, and iden i y in shaping
o eign policy. India’s his o ic commi men o non-alignmen , i s sel -pe cep ion as a leade
o he Global Sou h, and i s emphasis on so e eign equali y and mul ila e alism wi hin
BRICS e lec iden i y-based mo i a ions. This amewo k helps explain why India alues he
no ma i e appeal o BRICS as a coun e weigh o Wes e n-domina ed ins i u ions, e en as
s a egic i al ies pe sis (Wend , 1999).
S a egic Au onomy in P ac ice: Implica ions o BRICS
In p ac ical e ms, s a egic au onomy compels India o pu sue issue-based alignmen s a he
han igid ideological coali ions. Fo example, India’s engagemen wi h BRICS suppo s
e o s o e o m in e na ional inancial ins i u ions like he IMF and he Wo ld Bank, which
aligns wi h India’s economic de elopmen goals. Ye , India simul aneously deepens secu i y
coope a ion wi h Wes e n allies o coun e balance China’s asse i eness in he Indo-Paci ic
(Tellis, 2020). India’s s a egic au onomy also mani es s in i s calib a ed esponses o
con en ious issues wi hin BRICS, such as he Russia-Uk aine wa . India has a oided
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condemning Russia ou igh , mind ul o long-s anding de ence ies and ene gy in e es s,
while main aining i s s a egic pa ne ships wi h he Wes . This s ance unde sco es India’s
de e mina ion o p ese e manoeu abili y and a oid en anglemen in bina y geopoli ical
con es s (Sha ma, 2022). The no ion o pla o m diplomacy complemen s he concep o
mul i-alignmen by emphasizing India’s ac i e ole in mul iple in e na ional g oupings o
ad ance i s in e es s. BRICS, in his iew, is one among se e al pla o ms whe e India
p ojec s i s oice, nego ia es in e es s, and cul i a es pa ne ships. Such diplomacy equi es
sophis ica ed balancing: India mus na iga e in a-BRICS i al ies (especially be ween China
and Russia), main ain cohe ence wi h i s b oade o eign policy objec i es, and le e age he
collec i e powe o eme ging economies o eshape global go e nance. Th ough mul i-
alignmen , India a oids he pi alls o alliance en apmen and e ains s a egic lexibili y in
an unp edic able in e na ional en i onmen . This heo e ical amewo k si ua es India’s
BRICS s a egy a he in e sec ion o no ma i e commi men s and p agma ic calcula ions.
S a egic au onomy emains he guiding p inciple, while mul i-alignmen and pla o m
diplomacy p o ide he lexible mechanisms h ough which India pu sues i s na ional
in e es s. Unde s anding hese dynamics is essen ial o analysing India’s beha iou wi hin
BRICS and i s b oade in e na ional s a egy.
India’s Role and In e es s in BRICS
India’s engagemen wi h BRICS e lec s i s aspi a ions o secu e a mo e equi able global
o de while ad ancing i s na ional in e es s in economic de elopmen , poli ical in luence, and
s a egic posi ioning. As one o he o iginal ounding membe s since he g oup’s in o mal
incep ion in 2006, India has ac i ely shaped BRICS in o a pla o m o eme ging economies
o collec i ely challenge Wes e n dominance and ad oca e o Global Sou h p io i ies
(S uenkel, 2015). This sec ion explo es India’s mul i ace ed ole in BRICS and he co e
in e es s d i ing i s pa icipa ion.
His o ical and Diploma ic Founda ions
India’s commi men o BRICS a ises om a ecogni ion o he shi ing global powe
dynamics pos –Cold Wa , pa icula ly he ela i e decline o Wes e n hegemony and he ise
o eme ging economies. India iews BRICS no me ely as an economic coali ion bu as a
In e na ional Jou nal o Resea ch (IJR)
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s a egic o um o ampli y he oices o de eloping coun ies in global go e nance
ins i u ions (MEA India, 2011). This aligns wi h India’s longs anding o eign policy goal o
e o ming he in e na ional sys em o e lec con empo a y eali ies, including pe manen
membe ship on he Uni ed Na ions Secu i y Council and g ea e in luence in in e na ional
inancial ins i u ions like he In e na ional Mone a y Fund and he Wo ld Bank. Since he i s
o mal BRICS summi in Yeka e inbu g, Russia (2009), India has le e aged he g ouping o
asse leade ship on issues anging om sus ainable de elopmen o coun e e o ism. Indian
P ime Minis e s ha e emphasized BRICS as a mechanism o Sou h-Sou h coope a ion and
as a coun e balance o Wes e n-cen ic mul ila e alism (Ki on & La iono a, 2022). No ably,
India’s ac i e pa icipa ion demons a es i s p e e ence o inclusi e, mul ipola go e nance
a he han alignmen wi h any singula g ea powe .
Economic and De elopmen al In e es s
One o India’s p ima y in e es s wi hin BRICS lies in ad ancing economic coope a ion
among membe s a es o os e g ow h and de elopmen . India suppo s he expansion o
ade, in es men , and in as uc u e connec i i y among BRICS coun ies, seeking o c ea e a
mu ually bene icial economic bloc ha educes dependency on Wes e n inancial sys ems
(Pa ick, 2025). A landma k achie emen e lec ing his is India’s suppo o he New
De elopmen Bank (NDB), es ablished in 2014 and headqua e ed in Shanghai. The NDB
embodies BRICS’ ambi ion o p o ide an al e na i e o he IMF and Wo ld Bank by inancing
in as uc u e and sus ainable de elopmen p ojec s in membe and o he de eloping
coun ies (NDB, n.d.). India has been a signi ican con ibu o o he bank’s capi al and has
sough o di ec unding o p io i y sec o s like enewable ene gy, anspo a ion, and u ban
de elopmen . The NDB no only symbolizes a shi owa ds Sou h-Sou h inancial
coope a ion bu also p o ides India wi h a pla o m o in luence in e na ional de elopmen
inance no ms. Ano he inancial ins umen is he Con ingen Rese e A angemen (CRA),
a amewo k aimed a p o iding liquidi y suppo o membe coun ies du ing balance-o -
paymen s c ises. India sees he CRA as a mechanism o inc ease inancial s abili y among
eme ging ma ke s, educing ulne abili y o ex e nal shocks and specula i e capi al lows
(Aga wal, 2015). Beyond inance, India’s economic in e es s in BRICS include echnology
sha ing, digi al economy coope a ion, and p omo ing ade acili a ion. The g ouping
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acili a es dialogues on inno a ion ecosys ems, in o ma ion echnology pa ne ships, and e-
comme ce egula ion, e lec ing India’s ambi ion o posi ion i sel as a global digi al hub.
Poli ical and Geos a egic Conside a ions
India’s ole in BRICS anscends economic objec i es and encompasses b oade geos a egic
aims. India iews BRICS as a ehicle o di e si y i s diploma ic pa ne ships and asse i s
s a us as a ising powe . Th ough BRICS, India p ojec s an image o leade ship among he
Global Sou h, ad oca ing o a mo e ep esen a i e in e na ional o de ha add esses
de elopmen al dispa i ies and espec s so e eign equali y. The BRICS pla o m allows India
o engage wi h bo h Russia and China, coun ies ha occupy pi o al posi ions in i s o eign
policy calculus. While ela ions wi h Russia a e cha ac e ized by longs anding de ence and
ene gy coope a ion, India’s ela ionship wi h China is ma ked by i al y and coope a ion
(Tellis, 2020; Fe agamo 2025). Wi hin BRICS, India na iga es his dynamic ca e ully, using
he pla o m o os e dialogue while main aining igilance o e China’s egional ambi ions
and s a egic pos u ing. India’s engagemen also se es as a balancing ac agains Wes e n-
domina ed amewo ks. BRICS membe ship p o ides diploma ic co e o India’s e o s o
esis unila e al p essu e, pa icula ly on con en ious issues like ade dispu es, echnology
access, and global go e nance e o ms. I also complemen s India’s ac i e pa icipa ion in
Wes e n-led coali ions by enabling i o sus ain a deg ee o independence and le e age.
India’s Engagemen in BRICS Summi s and Ini ia i es
India’s ole in BRICS is p ominen ly displayed du ing annual summi s, whe e he g oup
discusses coope a ion s a egies and issues o mu ual in e es . Indian leade s ha e
consis en ly used hese o ums o emphasize BRICS’ ele ance in add essing con empo a y
global challenges such as clima e change, e o ism, and pandemics (MEA, India, 2024). A
key ocus has been he BRICS Pa ne ship on New Indus ial Re olu ion (Pa NIR), an
ini ia i e ha India suppo s o os e coope a ion in eme ging echnologies like a i icial
in elligence, bio echnology, and 5G communica ions (PIB India 2025). This aligns wi h
India’s ambi ion o mode nize i s indus ial base and enhance echnological capaci ies. India’s
pa icipa ion in he ecen expansion o BRICS, which includes coun ies like Saudi A abia,
Egyp , and A gen ina, signals i s endo semen o a b oade coali ion o Global Sou h ac o s
In e na ional Jou nal o Resea ch (IJR)
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(Ca alho e al 2025). India suppo s he expansion as a means o s eng hen he bloc’s global
legi imacy and economic clou while sa egua ding i s own leade ship ole wi hin he g oup.
Despi e India’s en husiasm o BRICS as a coope a i e pla o m, i emains cognizan o he
asymme ies and di e gen in e es s wi hin he g oup. India is awa e ha China’s dominan
economic weigh and asse i eness can o e shadow smalle membe s, po en ially
cons aining India’s in luence. Fu he mo e, geopoli ical ic ions such as he India-China
bo de dispu es and di e ing posi ions on global secu i y issues complica e India’s
engagemen . None heless, India’s s a egic calcula ion sees alue in main aining and
s eng hening BRICS ies as pa o i s b oade mul i-alignmen s a egy. By engaging wi h
di e se pa ne s on sha ed de elopmen al goals, India enhances i s global p o ile while
p ese ing i s abili y o engage in o he bila e al and mul ila e al o ums. The e o e, India’s
ole in BRICS is shaped by i s ambi ions o e o m global go e nance, p omo e Sou h-Sou h
coope a ion, and p ojec s a egic leade ship wi hou comp omising au onomy. I s
engagemen in economic ini ia i es like he New De elopmen Bank and policy dialogues
unde sco es India’s commi men o le e aging BRICS as a pla o m o ad ancing na ional
de elopmen objec i es and global in luence. Howe e , India’s s a egic au onomy equi es
ca e ul managemen o in e nal bloc dynamics, pa icula ly is-à- is China and Russia,
ensu ing ha BRICS complemen s a he han cons ains i s b oade o eign policy agenda.
S a egic Cons ain s wi hin BRICS
While BRICS p esen s i sel as a uni ied bloc ad oca ing he in e es s o eme ging economies
and he Global Sou h, he in e nal dynamics among i s membe s e eal signi ican s a egic
cons ain s ha a ec India’s abili y o le e age he g ouping ully. Di e gen geopoli ical
in e es s, economic asymme ies, and his o ical i al ies challenge he cohe ence o BRICS
and compel India o exe cise cau ion and s a egic inesse. This sec ion examines hese
in e nal cons ain s, ocusing on India’s complex ela ions wi h China and Russia, economic
dispa i ies wi hin he bloc, and b oade geopoli ical con adic ions ha shape India’s
engagemen .
The mos signi ican s a egic cons ain o India wi hin BRICS a ises om i s
complex and o en ad e sa ial ela ionship wi h China. Despi e bo h being ounding
In e na ional Jou nal o Resea ch (IJR)
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membe s, hei bila e al ela ionship is ma ked by bo de dispu es, compe ing egional
ambi ions, and ideological di e ences ha di ec ly impac India’s posi ion wi hin he
g ouping. The India-China bo de clashes, pa icula ly he iolen Galwan Valley inciden in
2020, ha e heigh ened ensions and unde sco ed he limi s o coope a ion. These dispu es
challenge India’s abili y o us China as a genuine pa ne in BRICS and aise conce ns
abou Beijing’s s a egic in en ions. China’s Bel and Road Ini ia i e (BRI), which India
ejec s on so e eign y g ounds due o i s ou e h ough dispu ed Kashmi e i o y (China-
Pakis an Economic Co ido ), u he complica es he ela ionship (Pan , 2011; Singh, 2021).
Wi hin BRICS, China’s economic and poli ical dominance is appa en . China’s GDP
a su passes ha o o he membe s—accoun ing o o e 70% o he bloc’s combined
GDP—which g an s i disp opo iona e in luence o e he g ouping’s agenda and decision-
making p ocesses. India mus he e o e na iga e ca e ully o a oid being o e shadowed o
coe ced in o posi ions ha con lic wi h i s na ional in e es s (Singh, 2023; Ga cia-He e o
2024). Despi e hese challenges, India main ains engagemen wi h China in BRICS o sus ain
dialogue and mul ila e al coope a ion, signalling a nuanced app oach ha balances
compe i ion and collabo a ion. India’s diploma ic language in BRICS summi s e lec s his
delica e balance, emphasizing common in e es s such as sus ainable de elopmen while
sides epping con en ious bila e al issues.
Russia, ano he key BRICS membe , p esen s a unique challenge o India.
His o ically, India and Russia ha e sha ed close s a egic ies, pa icula ly in de ence, ene gy,
and nuclea coope a ion. Russia’s ole as a majo a ms supplie and s a egic pa ne has been
pi o al o India’s mili a y mode niza ion (Bhowmick & S aude 2025). Howe e , Russia’s
deepening pa ne ship wi h China, especially amid Wes e n sanc ions ollowing he Uk aine
con lic , complica es India’s s a egic calculus. The Russia-China s a egic pa ne ship is
inc easingly iewed as a coun e weigh o Wes e n in luence, aising conce ns in India abou
being caugh in he c osshai s o g ea powe i al y. India’s e usal o unequi ocally
condemn Russia’s ac ions in Uk aine a BRICS o ums e lec s his dilemma. India balances
i s his o ical ies wi h Russia agains i s g owing s a egic alignmen wi h he Uni ed S a es
and Wes e n democ acies. This balancing ac limi s India’s oom o manoeu e wi hin
BRICS and exposes i o c i icism om mul iple sides (F eeman e al, 2024). Mo eo e ,
In e na ional Jou nal o Resea ch (IJR)
e-ISSN: 2348-6848
p-ISSN: 2348-795X
Vol. 12 Issue 09
Sep embe 2025
Recei ed: 20 Sep embe 2025 472
Re ised: 25 Sep embe 2025
Accep ed:28 Sep embe 2025
Copy igh au ho s 2025 DOI: HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.5281/ZENODO.17289351
In esponse, India has adop ed a nuanced mul i-alignmen app oach—balancing coope a ion
wi h BRICS pa ne s alongside deepe ies wi h Wes e n democ acies and egional allies.
This calib a ed diplomacy allows India o ha ness he bene i s o BRICS while p ese ing i s
eedom o ac independen ly on c i ical issues. The g ouping hus o ms one pa o India’s
b oade o eign policy oolki designed o na iga e a luid and compe i i e global
en i onmen .
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