Disruptive doctrine

The latest BRICS Leaders' Statement, emerging from the summit in Rio de Janeiro, marks a watershed moment in the bloc's political evolution and signals a rebalancing of India's global posture.

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For the first time, New Delhi has lent its name to sharp language condemning unilateral sanctions, military strikes in Iran, and the use of starvation in conflict zones – positions that directly confront long-standing US policies. As the world tilts toward multi-polarity, India's calibrated support for these statements is not accidental. It reflects the shifting terrain of global influence and a hardening consensus within the Global South. At the heart of the statement lies a principled rejection of coercive economic measures, particularly those imposed without United Nations authorisation. These so-called "secondary sanctions," once limited in scope, have grown into tools of extraterritorial pressure with serious implications for development and human rights. India, though a partner to the West in many areas, has consistently resisted such one-sided diktats. Its continued purchase of Russian energy, even amid Western sanctions, underscores this position. Equally significant is India's decision to co-sign the condemnation of the US-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites – acts labelled as violations of international law. This is a departure from New Delhi's usual reluctance to name powerful actors in multilateral settings. By not distancing itself from the statement – as it did with a similar Shanghai Cooperation Organisation draft – India is signalling a maturing confidence in its independent worldview. In an era of transactional geopolitics, this is not about choosing sides, but asserting autonomy. The statement's concern over Gaza – especially its reference to starvation as a method of warfare – places BRICS on a moral high ground. India's inclusion in this consensus is notable, given its past hesitation in UN forums calling for ceasefires. That Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the humanitarian crisis directly at the summit signals that India i