New delhi: In preparation for hosting the 18th BRICS summit in Delhi this weekend, India is attempting to steer the bloc, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, away from an anti-Western trajectory. The host nation has introduced a new slogan, "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," which seeks to maintain the group's brand identity while appealing to its newer members, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.
According to Deutsche Welle, the slogan represents a strategic move by India to ensure that BRICS is seen as a mission-driven alliance rather than one solely identified by its members' country names. Mihaela Papa, director of the BRICS Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, noted that this approach allows for a unified mission. Meanwhile, Sushant Singh, a lecturer in South Asian Studies at Yale University, observed that India's choice of a vague slogan reflects its intention to keep the summit low-key and neutral.
India's role as a rising geopolitical power adds significance to this year's gathering, unlike last year's summit in Brazil, where key leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were absent. While Putin is expected to attend, Xi's participation is anticipated but not yet confirmed. Papa emphasized the importance of China's top leadership in showcasing the bloc's strength. The summit also presents an opportunity for regional rivals, such as Iran and the UAE, to demonstrate cooperation, although the UAE is expected to send representatives rather than its president.
For India, the summit is as much about bilateral meetings as it is about the BRICS gathering. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet with Putin, and there is potential for dialogue between Modi and Xi amid ongoing tensions between China and India. However, Singh cautions that substantial outcomes from the summit are unlikely, given India's focus on maintaining a non-confrontational stance toward the West.
BRICS, now nearing its 18th year, struggles with coherence and purpose despite representing a significant portion of the world's population and GDP. Last year's declaration called for reforms in global governance and criticized international polarization. However, the bloc's expansion to include more members with diverse political systems complicates consensus on various issues.
Papa anticipates progress in trade, monetary cooperation, and agriculture during the summit. Discussions are expected to revolve around enhancing trade among members, developing alternative financial systems, and addressing food security issues. While BRICS will continue to advocate for global governance reform, India is likely to focus on aligning the bloc's efforts with its WTO ambitions.
Despite these efforts, Singh maintains that BRICS may continue to fall short of achieving major goals due to internal contradictions and global challenges such as China's influence and international trade tensions. The group's ability to enact significant change remains uncertain given these complexities.