India Navigates BRICS Dynamics Amidst Western Partnerships and Border Disputes
India is actively balancing its role within the BRICS coalition with its strategic partnerships with Western nations. While participating in BRICS, India aims to ensure the group remains a platform for non-Western states to voice their concerns rather than becoming solely aligned with Chinese preferences. India's foreign policy, as articulated by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, emphasizes being 'non-Western, not anti-Western,' seeking reforms in the international order rather than its complete overhaul. This approach is evident in its stance on de-dollarization, where India supports practical measures like local-currency settlement and cross-border payments for resilience, but opposes a BRICS currency. Concurrently, India continues to face unresolved border disputes and a significant trade deficit with China, viewing its dependence on Chinese supply chains as a vulnerability. Despite high-level talks, no breakthroughs have occurred regarding the Line of Actual Control, which remains a heavily mili...