BRICS' role in a multipolar world

Multilateral institutions are becoming the new reality in the geopolitical landscape.

- SMRUTI S PATTANAIK

On October 22-24, Russia hosted the 16th Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) summit at Kazan. The summit was projected as a diplomatic success for Russia, sending a message to the West that it is not isolated internationally and continues to be courted by important countries around the world.

BRICS started as a group of four emerging economies in 2006 and later included South Africa in 2010. Since then, it has expanded to add new members, i.e. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), giving economic teeth to the organisation. BRICS comprises 41 per cent of the world population, having 24 per cent of the world GDP and over 16 per cent share of the world trade. With the new members joining, its potential is set to increase exponentially.

Even though obituaries of the organisation have been written by analysts who argue that BRICS does not have the potential to emerge as an organisation of geopolitical relevance, it continues to be pertinent to a multipolar global order currently dominated by Western countries, which China and Russia challenge. For India, BRICS remains an important multilateral vehicle in its foreign policy. While the Western countries perceive both Russia and China as antithetical to Western values and West-dominated global order, India continues to be a linchpin in the US strategy for the Indo-Pacific.

However, India has avoided a direct confrontation with China. It has underlined the importance of the Indo-Pacific Economic Forum and other pillars of cooperation, such as enhancing maritime security, counterterrorism, non-proliferation and cyber issues between the countries of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.