BRICS will create a balanced ‘multipolar’ world order: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's five-nation visit—covering Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Namibia, and Brazil (for BRICS Summit)—is aimed at strengthening India's engagement with the Global South, enhancing strategic partnerships, and fostering a multipolar world order through platforms like BRICS.

Context and Significance

• Global South Focus: India has been advocating the cause of the Global South—developing and underrepresented nations in global governance. This visit reinforces India’s leadership aspirations in this bloc.

• BRICS Summit in Brazil: BRICS is emerging as a strategic coalition of emerging economies seeking alternatives to Western-dominated institutions like the IMF and World Bank.

• Multipolar World Order: PM Modi’s emphasis on a "balanced multipolar world" challenges the unipolar/hegemonic dominance and seeks a just international system rooted in equality, democracy, and peace.

• Bilateral Strengthening: The visit involves substantive bilateral talks in Africa and Latin America, regions critical for India's energy security, trade, and geopolitical outreach.

Major Highlights

• BRICS and India’s Strategic Role

• India sees BRICS as a "vital platform for emerging economies".

• The summit could strengthen cooperation in finance, digital infrastructure, global governance reforms, and South-South cooperation.

• Reinforces calls for UN Security Council reform, equitable global decision-making, and de-dollarization initiatives.

• India–Africa Relations (Ghana & Namibia)

• Ghana is a member of AU and ECOWAS, strategic for pan-African outreach.

• Talks on vaccine production, energy, capacity building, and investment—part of India's Africa-centric development model.

• In Namibia, PM will address its Parliament—boosting political goodwill and historic ties (e.g., India’s support to SWAPO during anti-colonial struggle).

• India–Latin America and Caribbean Ties (Argentina & Trinidad and Tobago)

• Cultural and diaspora linkages with Trinidad and Tobago; PM to receive highest state honour.

• India aims to expand trade and diplomatic outreach in Argentina, a G20 member and major agricultural power.

• The region is essential for India’s diversification of trade partners and food-energy security.

Strategic Implications for India

1. Leadership in Global South

• Positions India as a credible voice for developing countries.

• Enhances India’s soft power and developmental diplomacy via health, technology, and education cooperation.

2. Multipolarity and Strategic Autonomy

• Promotes a world order that is not Western-centric.

• Strengthens India's push for reformed multilateralism, BRICS New Development Bank, and currency cooperation.

3. Geopolitical Outreach

• Reinforces India’s Africa and Latin America engagement, which have been relatively underutilized.

• Diversifies India’s global partnerships amid evolving geopolitics (e.g., US-China rivalry).

Challenges and Considerations

• China's Role in BRICS: China may attempt to dominate the BRICS agenda; India must assertively preserve its own strategic space.

• Diplomatic Bandwidth: Engaging multiple new partners simultaneously requires robust follow-up mechanisms.

• Geoeconomics: Translating diplomatic ties into trade and investment gains remains a persistent challenge.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Ques: India’s engagement with the Global South reflects a shift from regional leadership to global statesmanship.” In light of PM Modi’s recent five-nation tour, critically examine this statement.(250 Words)