New Delhi’s ‘Balancing Act’ Risks Eroding Russia’s Trust, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• India demonstrated a significant shift in its foreign policy at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek and the BRICS summit in New Delhi in 2026.
• At the Bishkek summit, India endorsed a declaration condemning attacks on Iran and mourning the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US-Israeli airstrikes.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine at the SCO summit.
• This pivot included strong criticism of Israel and affirmation of Palestinian rights, a departure from India's previous stance.
• The shift is interpreted as an effort to secure a successful BRICS summit and counter diplomatic marginalisation following Operation Sindoor in 2025.

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Detailed Insights:

• The SCO summit in Bishkek (August 31-September 1, 2026) and the BRICS summit in New Delhi (September 12-13, 2026) were central to India's foreign policy recalibration.
• India's endorsement of the Bishkek Declaration, which condemned attacks on Iran, marked a departure from its usual avoidance of directly criticising the US or Israel.
• The public appeal to Russia to end the Ukraine war was seen as a counter-signal to Washington, balancing India's position after aligning with the SCO consensus on Iran.
• This "balancing act" highlights the strain on India's multi-alignment policy, as it navigates complex geopolitical interests.
• India's previous declaration of "today's era is not an era of war" at Samarkand in 2022 is now viewed by Russia as "performative diplomacy" aimed at reassuring the West.
• Despite diverging strategic priorities, Russia still relies on India as a major purchaser of its oil and military equipment.
• India has been steadily reducing its dependence on Russian arms, diversifying its procurement from countries like France, Israel, and the US.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO): A Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance.
• BRICS: An association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
• Multi-alignment: A foreign policy approach where a nation maintains good relations with multiple global powers, rather than aligning exclusively with one bloc.
• Strategic autonomy: A nation's ability to pursue its national interests and make independent foreign policy decisions without external pressure.