India should quit the Brics

Source: The post is based on the article “India should quit the Brics” published in Business Standard on 8^th September 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Relevance: concerns for India after the expansion of BRICS

News: The upcoming G20 summit in New Delhi marks the end of India’s presidency and holds significance for two key reasons, despite the group’s limited achievements since the 2008 financial crisis.

What are the reasons that make the G20 significant?

First, the Prime Minister has turned the G20 presidency into a significant domestic issue, engaging the entire nation in preparations to highlight India’s global importance.

Second, India faces a strategic choice with the BRICS expansion. The group was not very effective before, but with new members, many of whom are close to China, India now needs to be careful about its foreign policies.

Additionally, Brics+ is becoming more political, with China taking a central role and showing a stronger anti-Western stance. Therefore, India needs to consider its position in the group and ending its membership might be better for India.

Why should India discontinue being part of the BRICS grouping?

Economic Issues: Originally, the BRICS was economically strong, but in 2023 it isn’t as strong as it used to be. Some, like China and Russia, are still wealthy, but that doesn’t guarantee power.

China’s growth has slowed, and Russia has become weaker due to prolonged wars. Argentina is on the edge of a financial crisis while South Africa faces high unemployment and other issues.

Egypt needs help from the International Monetary Fund, and even Saudi Arabia and the UAE are in trouble because of climate change, which will reduce the value of their oil.

Hence, most BRICS+ countries have seen their economic strength decline, except for India, which is still growing. Since India no longer fits in well with the other BRICS members, it should consider leaving.

Political Issues: BRICS+ is becoming more political as it’s leaning towards China and against Western nations, contradicting India’s neutral foreign policy. 

Additionally, most new BRICS+ members are autocracies, except for Argentina and Ethiopia. Given this increasing political orientation and India being a democracy, it should consider leaving the group dominated by autocratic nations.

Global Governance Issues: The current international order led by the US and G7 isn’t working well anymore. Multilateral financial institutions also don’t give emerging countries like India enough say.

Although India seeks a new world order, it doesn’t match China, Russia, or Saudi Arabia’s vision within BRICS+.

The other BRICS members aim to reduce the US dollar’s dominance and offer different resources to poorer nations. However, these goals suggest a new world order based on the dominance of China.

So, shifting from US to Chinese dominance doesn’t seem beneficial for India, as it would support China’s goals in BRICS+.

Must Read: BRICS-Plus – Significance and Implications– Explained

What can be the way ahead?

The G7 is outdated, and BRICS+ isn’t a good choice. Hence, to prove its rising influence, India should leave BRICS. At the same time, to support positive alternatives, India should focus on making the G20 successful.