Context

The current crisis in Ukraine will consolidate BRICS as the group will make further efforts to become a real alternative to the West to create a real multipolar world.

 BRICS’ efforts to change world economic system

• The group was brought together by geopolitical rather than economic considerations and this can be seen in the strategic interests shared by Russia and China.
• Inclusion of non-Western states in international financial institutions: BRICS is actively involved in the efforts to change the world economic system by increasing the number of non-Western states in international financial institutes.
• The BRICS countries decided to create the $100 billion BRICS Development Bank and a reserve currency pool worth over another $100 billion to offer an alternative to countries in the non-Western world when it comes to choosing the sources of funding for development or coping with serious economic crises.

Consequences of Ukraine crisis for BRICS

•  It demonstrates that the West has not abandoned the idea of a unipolar world and will continue building it up by drawing into its foreign policy orbit issues it calls “international” or even “common to mankind.”
• Many non-Western states look at this as a new wave of colonialism.
• This will increase the desire of non-Western countries to enhance their coordination and perhaps the current conflict is already showing signs in this respect.
• The BRICS states are different in many respects and their disagreements with the West are rooted in different historical and political circumstances.
• The current crisis in Ukraine will consolidate BRICS as the group will make further efforts to become a real alternative to the West to create a real multipolar world.
• RIC controls 22 per cent of the global GDP and 16 per cent of global exports of goods and services.
• The fallout from Russia’s alienation from the G-8 group of nations, raises the prospect that — tactically at least — Russia, India, and China might be playing their own triangular integrationist card within BRICS at Moscow’s initiative.
• Eurasian integrationist core: This will create a north Eurasian integrationist core within BRICS, whichever way Moscow’s relations with the US and Europe play out.

Implications for India

• Both the Asian giants — India and China — may stand to reap the “best of both worlds” as the Ukraine imbroglio plays out.
• Investment: This could mean greater industrial and energy cross investments between Russia and India as well as between Russia and China.
• Additionally, the proposed arrangement for rupee-ruble cross currency pairing could result in settlement of payments in non-dollar currencies with more countries looking at India’s sovereign Financial Messaging Systems (SFMS), while also remaining connected with a central system like SWIFT.
• Dedicated payment mechanism: This should also anchor India’s quest to build a dedicated payment mechanism for energy-related payments and settlements as a long-haul measure.
• This could change the contours of the global payments landscape and benefit the rupee immensely.

Spotlight on India

• As the war progresses, New Delhi has been receiving a stream of high-profile visitors from around the world.
• This has included delegations from the US, Australia and Japan, India’s partners in the Quad.
• The foreign minister of Greece has also been to India and the Israeli prime minister is scheduled to visit soon.
• Even traditional rival China is making overtures to India at this time, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit.
• Another suitor is Russia, which is now also becoming a supplier of discounted crude oil to India as Moscow recoils from sanctions enforced by western consumers of its natural gas.

Conclusion

New Delhi is basking in its well-deserved spotlight with well-crafted diplomacy. India could be looking at a new dawn.

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