The development of relations within the Global South has been proceeding steadily and along an advancing trajectory. Without sensational headlines, the level of relations among many non-Western countries has been systematically increasing. The countries of the non-West are demonstrating the fastest rates of economic growth. Meanwhile, the Atlantic unity of the West has been severely undermined and continues to deteriorate.
The unprovoked and unsuccessful aggression of the United States and Israel against Iran demonstrated not only the limitations of the military potential and excessive self-confidence of the global West. In fact, the defeat in the war they themselves initiated revealed the depth of the split among the various parts of what was once a unified Western world. In his characteristic manner, American President Donald Trump did not hesitate to use harsh language, subjecting the leaders of the largest countries of the European Union to severe criticism and, at times, humiliation. For nearly a month, the global public witnessed a series of public insults, humiliations, and verbal attacks exchanged among the leaders of the leading Western countries.
Donald Trump insulted the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain for their unwillingness to assist Washington in the war against the Islamic Republic. In turn, they not only criticized the actions of the Pentagon and Israel but also refused to provide their territories and military infrastructure for the needs of the American military. The split within the Western bloc extended even to military-political alliances. During the war with Iran, American military bases were repeatedly subjected to aerial strikes by the Iranian side. Donald Trump called NATO “a useless organization” and, perhaps somewhat impulsively, stated that the United States might withdraw from it. Ultimately, the war against Iran demonstrated that the Western world is in a deep crisis. The Atlantic consensus is experiencing a serious decline. Moreover, Western military alliances, including North Atlantic Treaty Organization, are not guarantees of security.
A different situation exists among the countries of the global majority, the alternative development community, or the Global South. The BRICS countries are becoming the core of the Global South and are demonstrating significant achievements in economic and technological development. Following its expansion, BRICS encompasses about 50 percent of the world’s population, while its share of global GDP exceeds 36 percent, surpassing the combined share of the G7 countries. In addition, the countries of alternative development account for more than 25 percent of global trade. In short, the global economy is undergoing a phase of transformation. A major shift in global development is taking place from the West toward the Global South. This process is not rapid and is complex, but it appears to be inevitable.
At the same time, there are “hybrid” organizations that include representatives of both the emerging developing world and the old world, which is experiencing difficulties in its development. One coalition possessing some potential is the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, which includes the United States, Japan, Australia, and India. The rules-based global order is undergoing profound transformations. As Russia and China strengthen, challenging the Western powers and their institutions, while the United States fundamentally reconsiders its global role, the world is facing escalating geopolitical conflicts and deepening contradictions.
For many countries this turbulence—marked by calls for reforming multilateral cooperation through platforms such as BRICS, the African Union, and the G20—presents both challenges and opportunities.
The Quad has a weak institutional structure and even more weakly defined goals and objectives. Washington and Tokyo are making every effort to give it a military-political dimension. The primary objective of these efforts is to counter China’s growing military and economic power. At the same time, India resists transforming the Quad into a formal military alliance. According to Indian analysts, direct military confrontation with Beijing is not the best scenario and could lead to destabilization in Asia.
As a result, India is not only one of the leaders of global development but also, to a certain extent, a balancing force in contemporary global affairs. It preserves strategic autonomy, pursuing a policy rooted in the legacy of the Non-Aligned Movement and utilizing various platforms without entering into formal alliances. This approach enables India to advance its national interests while positioning itself as the voice of the countries of the Global South and at the same time continuing to remain a partner of the West.
The current weakening of global institutions has also created a unique opportunity for India, not only because of its economic scale and global presence but also because of its strategic partnerships. Thus, New Delhi’s unique position in the global economy enables it to serve as a bridge between the North and the South. India possesses every opportunity to transform the weakening global order and steer it toward more equitable global governance.
On January 1, 2026, the BRICS chairmanship passed to India. In 2027, Russia and India will celebrate the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The two countries have consistently demonstrated an example of friendly relations built on equality, mutual respect, trust, and shared positions on international issues. Russia is India’s key partner in strategically important areas such as energy security, including nuclear energy, defense technologies, space, artificial intelligence, Arctic research, and agriculture. It is important to note that the steady expansion of cooperation corresponds to the fundamental national interests of both countries. Both formally and in practice, relations between the two countries constitute a “special and privileged strategic partnership.”
According to the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry, trade between our two countries reached US$53.8 billion in 2025, the Russian diplomat noted. Russia remains India’s fourth-largest trading partner and its leading supplier of oil (approximately 30–35%), petroleum products (28%), sunflower oil (51%), and fertilizers (21%).
Military-technical cooperation between Russia and India has historically remained at a high level. Today, it is progressing at full speed. The parties are implementing a number of joint projects, including in the aviation sector: Su-57E, Superjet-100, and Il-114-300. The jointly developed BrahMos supersonic cruise missile systems have also earned a strong reputation. For decades, India has remained one of the largest importers of Russian weapons. Russia and India also cooperate successfully in the field of nuclear energy.
India’s foreign policy strategy was originally shaped as flexible and multidirectional, becoming an integral part of its strategic thinking. At the very stage of establishing itself as an independent state, India became one of the initiators of the Non-Aligned Movement—an association of countries seeking to develop an independent path of development after a prolonged period of colonial dependence. New Delhi faced similar challenges: overcoming poverty, technological backwardness, and institutional weakness. At the same time, it deliberately avoided involvement in the confrontation between the two global centers of power during the Cold War, joining neither the Western bloc nor the socialist camp.
