Model Answer

The BRICS grouping was conceived as an economic and developmental platform representing the collective voice of major emerging economies of the Global South. Over time, however, differing national priorities and geopolitical alignments among its members have generated internal divergences, particularly regarding the expansion of BRICS into the security and military domain. The BRICS Plus naval exercise hosted by South Africa illustrates this emerging tension between economic cooperation and strategic signalling.

The BRICS Plus naval exercise was a host-led, non-institutionalised maritime drill conducted outside the formal BRICS framework, involving select BRICS members and invited partners such as Russia, China, Iran and the UAE, with several countries participating as observers. Framed under the theme of ensuring the safety of key shipping lanes and maritime economic activities, the exercise nonetheless carried strong geopolitical overtones due to China-led operational coordination and the participation of sanctioned states like Russia and Iran. This has raised concerns about the gradual militarisation of BRICS-related engagements and the potential perception of the grouping as an anti-Western security alignment.

These developments highlight divergent visions within BRICS. While countries such as China and Russia appear inclined to leverage BRICS Plus platforms for strategic and security outreach, others—including India—continue to view BRICS primarily as an economic, developmental and financial forum. For India, BRICS remains an important platform for reforming global governance institutions, promoting South–South cooperation, advancing development finance through the New Development Bank, and amplifying the voice of emerging economies in a multipolar world. Expanding BRICS into military cooperation risks diluting this original mandate and undermining its economic legitimacy.

India’s decision to opt out of active participation in the naval exercise is best understood through the lens of its long-standing commitment to strategic autonomy. India avoids formal military blocs and alliance structures, preferring issue-based and interest-driven partnerships. Participation in a China-led naval drill, particularly alongside countries under international sanctions, could constrain India’s diplomatic space, complicate its relations with other major powers, and blur its carefully maintained distinction between economic multilateralism and security alignments.

Furthermore, India remains cautious about defence engagements with China, especially in light of unresolved border tensions and trust deficits following the standoff in eastern Ladakh. Joining a naval exercise coordinated by China would carry symbolic and operational implications that run counter to India’s security assessments and regional priorities. From India’s perspective, maritime cooperation should be pursued through established and transparent frameworks such as bilateral exercises, multilateral platforms like the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), or functional arrangements focused on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and anti-piracy, rather than through loosely defined political groupings.

At a broader level, the BRICS Plus naval exercise also raises questions about the future trajectory of the grouping. While the Global South narrative of protecting maritime commons and economic activities is legitimate, the inclusion of hard security elements risks reinforcing perceptions of BRICS as an oppositional bloc to the West. Such perceptions could undermine the grouping’s credibility as an inclusive and pragmatic platform for global economic reform.

In conclusion, the BRICS Plus naval exercise underscores the growing divergence within BRICS between members seeking to expand its strategic and military footprint and those, like India, that emphasise economic cooperation and strategic restraint. India’s calibrated response reflects its commitment to strategic autonomy, its insistence on separating economic forums from military signalling, and its broader vision of a multipolar order based on flexible, non-exclusive partnerships. This approach allows India to remain engaged with BRICS while safeguarding its national interests and diplomatic independence.