India Aims to Redirect BRICS from Anti-Western Tendencies

New delhi: In preparation for hosting the 18th BRICS summit in Delhi this weekend, India has crafted a slogan to maintain the group's brand identity while accommodating its new members. The slogan, "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," retains the essence of BRICS' original members-Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa-and aligns with the goals of the new members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. According to Deutsche Welle, the slogan is seen as a strategic move by India to reinterpret BRICS as a collective mission rather than a mere representation of country names. Mihaela Papa, director of the BRICS Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, views it as an elegant solution, while Sushant Singh, a lecturer in South Asian Studies at Yale University, believes it reflects India's desire to keep BRICS neutral and low-key. Singh notes that India, while not wanting to offend Russia or China, is increasingly aligning with the United S tates, indicating a lack of enthusiasm for expanding BRICS. India's role as a rising global geopolitical power adds significance to this year's summit compared to last year's in Brazil, where six out of eleven heads of state, including China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin, skipped the event. Putin is expected to attend this year, while Xi's participation, though not confirmed, is anticipated. Papa emphasizes that China's top leadership's participation is crucial and sees the potential cooperation between regional rivals Iran and the UAE as a testament to BRICS' strength as a stabilizing force. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will attend, but UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is expected to send representatives. Saudi Arabia, amidst ambiguous BRICS status, is also expected to participate. For India, the summit holds importance not only for BRICS discussions but also for bilateral meetings, such as between Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and potentially between Xi a nd Modi. However, Singh believes substantial outcomes are unlikely, citing India's focus on fostering trade ties rather than adopting an anti-Western stance. BRICS, nearing its 18th year, faces challenges in establishing coherence and purpose despite representing nearly half of the world's population and around 40% of its GDP. Last year's joint declaration called for global governance reforms and condemned international polarization. Papa believes ideological focus remains on practical cooperation, but the expansion to 11 members complicates consensus. Singh highlights the difficulty in reconciling the bloc's internal contradictions, noting the presence of more autocracies and tense bilateral relations. Nevertheless, Papa anticipates progress in trade, monetary cooperation, and agriculture during this year's summit. Discussions are expected on improving trade, developing alternative financial architectures, and addressing food security issues. While reforming global governance remains central, BRICS may con centrate on aligning on issues like WTO trade approaches, where India finds common ground with more members. Despite these prospects, Singh maintains skepticism, citing global dynamics and internal inconsistencies that hinder major achievements.