India has assumed the BRICS chairmanship and intends to continue the line of its predecessors in advancing the interests of this large and influential international association representing the global majority.
The Lotus as a Symbol of Unity and Diversity
Notably, the lotus is the symbol of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, whose long-standing leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been called upon to play a decisive role, along with S. Jaishankar, during India’s chairmanship. It’s also significant that the lotus petals are colored in the BRICS member states’ colors, symbolizing unity in diversity and the achievement of common goals. This logo, according to the organizers, demonstrates the resolve of the ten BRICS members and an equal number of partner countries to contribute collectively to achieving their goals while preserving their distinct identities.
A Focus on Advancing BRICS Interests
At the presentation, the four key priorities of India’s chairmanship were reaffirmed: sustainability, innovation, cooperation, and sustainable development. This chairmanship takes on added significance in the year of the BRICS’s 20th anniversary, and the 18th BRICS summit, scheduled for autumn 2026, will likely be marked by the adoption of significant documents designed to enhance its authority, as well as the role of India itself, which plans to organize and host large-scale events throughout the year symbolizing the group’s core activities.
Between the Lotus and Geopolitical Challenges
The Indian leadership’s chairmanship will be challenging given the complicated international situation, growing conflict potential, and complex geopolitical challenges. India’s admittedly highly skilled and flexible diplomacy will need to make strenuous efforts to overcome current confrontational trends in the world and maintain a balance of interests between BRICS and other key international players. Clearly, in the current tense circumstances, the Indians will have to play the role of impartial brokers, interested both in consolidating and strengthening the association’s role, as well as in its harmonious and non-confrontational development without exacerbating relations with other global players. It appears that such a challenging task is within the grasp of Indian leaders, who possess the art of compromise and balancing, and who are capable of preserving the association’s image and high prestige without introducing new challenges and irritants into international relations.
Perhaps, in the current situation, New Delhi should not be expected to overly actively promote current issues and priorities on the BRICS agenda. A more important task is to keep the group afloat, ensure unity of views among its members, and continue efforts to promote the idea of building a more democratic and equitable multipolar world order and enhancing the role of BRICS as one of its important stabilizing factors.
Indian Diplomacy, Priorities, and Support for Russia
Undoubtedly, the Indian Chairmanship will have to take into account its difficult relations with China and the United States in its practical activities and find solutions that will not complicate mutual understanding with these key global players. The Indians will certainly rely on the support of Russia as one of their most significant strategic partners, which has never let New Delhi down and is ready to coordinate joint and multilateral actions in the interests of the group and the maintenance of international stability as a whole. We believe that India, during its BRICS Presidency, will focus on protecting the interests of countries in the Global South, enhancing resilience to global challenges, and strengthening the association’s role in the international monetary and financial system, including reforming international financial institutions. India’s Presidency will continue to focus on trade, investment, education, healthcare, climate change, and technological development, as well as its readiness to address key global challenges. It is believed that India, given its successful G20 Presidency, not to mention its distinctively skilled diplomacy in international affairs, will successfully address the challenges facing it during its current Presidency, firmly relying on the support of Russia and other key BRICS partners.
Anvar Azimov, Diplomat and political scientist, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Senior Research Fellow at the Eurasian Educational Institute of MGIMO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia
Follow new articles on our Telegram channel
