What Happened
- The Congress party questioned why Prime Minister Modi is not advancing the BRICS+ Summit (which India is set to host in 2026) to mount a diplomatic initiative on the ongoing West Asia crisis.
- Congress alleged that PM Modi is avoiding any action that might antagonise US President Trump or Israeli PM Netanyahu, thereby "diminishing" India's BRICS presidency.
- Separately, India as BRICS chair has been facilitating internal consultations among BRICS member states toward a possible joint statement on the West Asia conflict.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for a more proactive BRICS role in addressing the conflict, pushing for the bloc to contribute to halting hostilities.
- The debate reflects the fundamental tension in India's foreign policy: balancing its strategic partnership with the US while maintaining its tradition of independent multilateral engagement.
Static Topic Bridges
BRICS — Composition, Expansion, and India's 2026 Presidency
BRICS originated as an economic concept coined by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill in 2001 (as "BRIC"), before becoming a formal multilateral grouping. The first BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009. South Africa joined in 2010, creating the "BRICS" acronym. A major expansion in 2024 added Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. Indonesia joined in 2025, and ten partner states were added in the same year. India assumed the BRICS chairmanship on January 1, 2026, with the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability."
- Full members (11): Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Indonesia
- Partner countries (10, added 2025): Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
- India's 2026 Summit: To be held in New Delhi; expected August-September 2026; approximately 100 meetings planned across 60 Indian cities
- BRICS GDP share: Approximately 37% of global GDP (PPP); 46% of world population
- India's previous BRICS Chair: 2021 (New Delhi Declaration — focus on intra-BRICS trade, multilateral reform)
- New Development Bank (NDB): BRICS-led multilateral development bank; established 2014; HQ Shanghai; India has been a significant beneficiary
Connection to this news: With Iran now a BRICS member (since 2024), India faces the politically delicate challenge of facilitating BRICS discussions on a war in which Iran is a direct combatant — while avoiding any position that strains its US relations.
India's Strategic Autonomy Doctrine in Foreign Policy
India's foreign policy has been characterised since independence by the doctrine of "strategic autonomy" — the ability to make independent decisions without being locked into any single alliance system. This evolved from Nehru's Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) philosophy into a more pragmatic "multi-alignment" approach under PM Modi, characterised by simultaneous engagement with the US (Quad, defence partnerships), Russia (S-400 purchase, continued oil imports), Iran (Chabahar port), and BRICS members. Strategic autonomy allows India to refuse to condemn Russia at the UNSC over Ukraine while deepening US defence ties simultaneously.
- NAM (Non-Aligned Movement): Founded 1961, Belgrade; India was a founding member alongside Egypt, Yugoslavia, Indonesia, Ghana — 120 member states today
- India's UNSC abstentions: On Russia-Ukraine since February 2022 (multiple votes); consistent with strategic autonomy
- Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue): US, India, Japan, Australia; first leader-level summit 2021; focus on Indo-Pacific security, technology, resilience
- India-Iran ties: Chabahar port development (India's investment in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province); connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia via INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor)
- S-400 Triumf purchase (India-Russia): Signed 2018; India resisted US CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) pressure; deliveries began 2021
Connection to this news: The West Asia conflict tests India's strategic autonomy more sharply than any recent event: Iran (a BRICS partner with which India has strategic connectivity interests) is at war with the US (India's key technology and defence partner) and Israel (with which India has deep defence ties).
BRICS as a Multilateral Forum — Potential and Limitations
BRICS lacks a permanent secretariat, binding decisions, or enforcement mechanism — its outputs are political declarations and coordinated positions. Its institutional architecture includes the New Development Bank (NDB), BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA — a $100 billion emergency liquidity facility), and BRICS Payment System (proposals for de-dollarisation). The bloc's internal contradictions (India-China bilateral tensions; varying relationships with the West) have historically limited its ability to produce unified statements on geopolitically charged issues.
- BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA): $100 billion emergency liquidity facility; established 2014; China contributes $41 billion; India $18 billion
- New Development Bank (NDB): Authorised capital $100 billion; equal shares initially among 5 founding members; new members (Egypt, UAE, Bangladesh, Uruguay) have joined
- De-dollarisation agenda: Contentious within BRICS — India cautious; Russia and China strong proponents
- India-China border tensions: LAC dispute since April 2020 (Galwan clash) limits genuine BRICS solidarity despite formal membership
- BRICS joint statement on Ukraine: India resisted language condemning Russia; BRICS produced only a general call for dialogue
Connection to this news: Getting all 11 BRICS members to agree on a joint West Asia statement is extremely challenging — Iran is a party to the conflict, Saudi Arabia and UAE are Gulf states potentially targeted, Russia is closer to Iran, China balances Gulf relationships and Iran ties, and India must avoid antagonising the US.
Key Facts & Data
- India assumed BRICS Chair: January 1, 2026
- BRICS Summit 2026: New Delhi (expected August-September 2026)
- BRICS full members: 11 (as of 2025, including Indonesia)
- BRICS partner countries: 10 (added 2025)
- BRICS GDP share (PPP): ~37% of global GDP
- NDB (New Development Bank): Established 2014; HQ Shanghai; authorised capital $100 billion
- CRA (Contingent Reserve Arrangement): $100 billion emergency liquidity pool
- Iran joined BRICS: January 2024 (expansion at Johannesburg summit 2023)
- India's strategic autonomy: Abstained at UNSC on Russia-Ukraine multiple times since 2022
- Chabahar port: India's key connectivity investment in Iran; corridor to Afghanistan and Central Asia