Archive · 11 Sep 2026
India Seeks Global South Voice Without Making BRICS Anti-West
India is leading the BRICS group this year.
It wants BRICS to give developing countries a stronger voice.
However, India does not want BRICS to become a group mainly opposed to Western countries.
China and Russia often see BRICS as a way to challenge the existing global balance.
India and Brazil mostly see it as a place for economic cooperation.
India is also seeking more influence in global institutions and rulemaking.
The group has become harder to manage after adding more members.
When ministers could not agree on a joint statement in May, India issued a chair’s statement instead.
India wants BRICS to represent Global South interests without becoming anti-Western.
Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi are expected to appear together at India’s BRICS summit.
India describes itself as non-Western rather than anti-Western, while seeking greater influence in global governance.
India and Brazil largely view BRICS as an economic platform, unlike China and Russia’s geopolitical emphasis.
India used a chair’s statement after BRICS foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint declaration in May.
- Who
- India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is chairing BRICS, alongside members including China, Russia, Brazil and Iran.
- What
- India is trying to advance Global South interests through BRICS without turning the grouping into an anti-Western bloc.
- When
- The report concerns India’s current BRICS chairmanship and the summit expected this weekend; foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint declaration in May.
- Where
- The BRICS summit is being hosted in New Delhi, India.
- Why
- India wants a greater role in global governance, financial and technological rulemaking, and representation for non-Western states while preserving existing international institutions.
Economic, Non-Western Platform
Geopolitical Counterweight
BRICS’s main purpose
Economic, Non-Western Platform
India and Brazil largely view BRICS as an economic platform focused on cooperation and strengthening existing institutions.
Geopolitical Counterweight
China and Russia view BRICS more as a geopolitical grouping with the potential to challenge aspects of the existing international order.
Relationship with the West
Economic, Non-Western Platform
India wants BRICS to represent the Global South while remaining non-Western rather than anti-Western, a position the report says the West could tolerate.
Geopolitical Counterweight
The presence of China, Russia and India’s leadership could fuel perceptions that India is drifting away from the West, particularly amid US tariff pressure.
Managing disagreements
Economic, Non-Western Platform
India has sought to preserve consensus by distinguishing BRICS’s economic and geopolitical tracks and acknowledging differences when necessary.
Geopolitical Counterweight
The group’s expansion and competing priorities have made consensus more difficult, as shown by the failure to produce a joint declaration in May.
- BRICS chair
- India is chairing BRICS this year.
- India’s position
- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar described India as “non-Western, not anti-Western.”
- Expected leaders
- Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi are expected to attend or feature prominently at the New Delhi summit.
- Policy focus
- Discussions have included food security, emerging technologies and trade.
- Internal divide
- India and Brazil generally emphasize BRICS as an economic platform, while China and Russia emphasize its geopolitical role.
- May disagreement
- BRICS foreign ministers did not reach agreement on a joint declaration and India instead issued a chair’s statement.