The developing BRICS countries are bringing their positions closer together and conducting active diplomacy in different areas. The degradation of the European Union, the victory of conservatism in the United States, and Asia’s economic successes are strengthening the BRICS countries’ role. Also, Russia’s inevitable victory and rapprochement with Donald Trump’s conservative America are leading to global transformations.
The day before, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that the world requires a strong United Nations, but it is necessary to understand that in the current situation, the balance of power in the world has changed. “We need a strong UN. But a strong UN requires a fair United Nations, and a strong world order must have some basic consistency of standards… I think it is important to audit how things have been in the world over the past eight decades and be honest about it, and also to understand that today the balance of power and the share of participation in the world have changed,” he said during discussions on the sidelines of The Raisina Dialogue conference, held in New Delhi.
“The old order was a product of its time. But why I thought it was overrated is because I think the rule maker and the rule taker had different views. If you had to deal with some of those rules or their application, we had problems,” he said. Along with Brazil, Germany, and Japan, India is part of the Group of Four (G4), a group of countries whose scale of development is comparable to that of permanent members of the UN Security Council and which demand permanent membership in the organization. During the G4 summit, the foreign ministers of Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan called for reform of the UN Security Council and reaffirmed their support for each other in gaining permanent seats.
In a recent interview, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke positively about India’s relationship with longtime rival China. He said normalcy had returned to the disputed India-China border and called for stronger ties. These are striking comments because tensions have been high since a nasty border clash in the northern Ladakh region in 2020—the deadliest since a 1962 war. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning expressed appreciation for Modi’s words and declared that “the two countries should be partners that contribute to each other’s success.”
Modi’s pitch for closer partnership isn’t actually as big of a leap as it may seem, given recent improvements in bilateral ties. But the relationship remains strained, and much will need to fall into place—bilaterally and more broadly geopolitically—for it to enjoy a true rapprochement.
Bilateral trade is consistently robust; even after the Ladakh clash, China has been India’s top trade partner. They cooperate multilaterally, from BRICS, the alliance of major developing countries, to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. They share interests in advancing non-Western economic models, countering Islamist terrorism, and rejecting what they deem US moral crusading.
At the same time, India is actively developing relations with other countries outside the Western world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral ties and addressing global challenges during their meeting in New Delhi. Speaking in a joint press statement, PM Modi highlighted shared concerns over terrorism, citing attacks in both countries. PM Modi emphasized that terrorism is unacceptable in all forms, citing the devastating attacks on Christ Church in 2019 and Mumbai’s 26/11 tragedy. He stressed the need for strict action against terror perpetrators and separatist elements. “We have the same opinion on terrorism. Whether it is the terror attack on Christ Church on March 15, 2019, or Mumbai 26/11, terrorism is unacceptable in every manner. Strict action is necessary against terror perpetrators. We will work together against terrorist, separatist, and extremist elements. We have shared our concern regarding anti-India activities in New Zealand. We are sure we will keep getting the New Zealand government’s assistance against these illegal activities,” he stated.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism and violent extremism through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. PM Modi welcomed New Zealand’s participation in the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative, highlighting their shared interest in maintaining peace and stability in the region. “We both support a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. We believe in the policy of development, not expansionism. We welcome New Zealand to join the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative,” he said.
The two nations also agreed to strengthen their bilateral relationship through cooperation in trade, investment, defense, and security. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, in his remarks, highlighted his country’s enduring relationship with India and the strong people-to-people connections between the two nations.
“New Zealand and India bookend the Indo-Pacific, but distance is no barrier to our pursuit of a brighter future for both our nations. Thank you for welcoming me to New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” – Luxon wrote on X. Luxon also acknowledged the vital role of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand, calling them an essential link between the two countries. He noted, “Indian-Kiwis represent the third-largest ethnic group in the country, the largest source of skilled migrants, and the second-largest contributor to international student enrollments.”
Thus, one can observe quite serious transformations in world politics. Non-Western countries are actively developing relations, moving to the forefront of world development.
