Expansion: A Victory with Complications
The summit's headline achievement was the invitation to six new nations—Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—to join the bloc. On paper, this was a major win, bolstering the group's claim to represent the 'Global
South'. The expansion was heavily pushed by China and Russia, who see a larger BRICS as a geopolitical counterweight to the G7 and other Western-led institutions. However, this rapid growth was a point of contention. India and Brazil had expressed reservations, favouring a more cautious approach with clear criteria for entry. Their concern was that a rapid, politically-driven expansion could dilute the group's purpose and turn it into a distinctly anti-Western forum, undermining their own principles of maintaining strategic autonomy and positive relationships with all global powers.
The Anti-West vs. Alter-West Divide
This leads to the core ideological rift within BRICS. For China and Russia, the bloc is increasingly a vehicle to challenge a US-dominated world order. For India, Brazil, and South Africa, the goal is more nuanced. They seek to reform the existing global system, not necessarily to create a polarising alternative. They want a multipolar world where they have a greater voice, but not one defined by a new Cold War. The 2023 summit made this tension plain. While the final declaration condemned unilateral measures, it stopped short of the strong anti-Western rhetoric Beijing and Moscow might have preferred. Experts noted that the group is moving more towards an 'alter-West' position—creating parallel structures—rather than a purely 'anti-West' one, largely due to the moderating influence of members like India.
De-Dollarisation: Ambition Meets Reality
A key topic of discussion was 'de-dollarisation'—reducing the world's reliance on the US dollar for trade and finance. The idea gained traction as a way to insulate member economies from US sanctions and financial pressure. Leaders tasked their finance ministers to explore the possibility of using local currencies more and even a potential common payment system. However, the summit produced no concrete plan or timeline. This exposed another limit: the economic realities are complex. The dollar's dominance is deeply entrenched, and the currencies of BRICS members, including the Chinese yuan, face challenges with convertibility, stability, and trust that make them an unworkable substitute for now. The ambition is clear, but the path forward remains highly idealistic.
India's High-Wire Balancing Act
For India, the Johannesburg summit was a microcosm of its broader foreign policy challenges. New Delhi successfully navigated the cross-currents, ensuring its core interests were protected. It pushed for clear expansion criteria and prevented the bloc from being hijacked by a single-minded anti-US agenda. This is crucial for India, which simultaneously works with Western partners in forums like the Quad. The summit also provided a platform for a crucial sideline meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they agreed to de-escalate tensions along their disputed border. India’s role in BRICS is a strategic hedge and a platform to champion the interests of developing nations, but the 2023 meeting underscored the diplomatic effort required to balance its commitments within a group containing its primary geopolitical rival, China.
