‘Will make India less dependent on the West’: Foreign policy experts on BRICS Summit

New Delhi: With several heads of state arriving in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit in the national capital, foreign policy experts on Friday said that cooperation among the member countries will make India less dependent on Western nations.

Speaking to IANS, journalist and foreign affairs expert Waiel Awaad said that major India-Russia-China agreements on trade, defence, energy and technology may not have a direct impact on ties with the US and the Western countries, “but it’s going to be very sensitive as this kind of cooperation between the three major powers will make India less dependent on the West and the US in particular, which the latter won’t be comfortable with”.

“The Russians are giving technology to India but we haven’t seen any transfer of technology to India from America, till now. While India, on its part, is also insisting on the ‘Make in India’ project, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. So, if America or the West is not willing to share their technical know-how, I think that such kind of a cooperation (between Russia, India and China) will help in building a stronger platform for the three countries.”

“I believe that the differences, especially between India and China, will reduce a lot if there is sincerity among the three leaders to move,” he added.

Awaad further said: “Meeting and cooperation among the BRICS group will help in enhancing, finding a new market for Indian products, and also make it less dependent on the West. I believe India’s diplomatic skills will be displayed in the outcome of the communique of this meeting.”

According to former diplomat Mahesh Sachdev, the BRICS Summit will be an opportunity for major countries of the world to discuss and find a solution regarding the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and in West Asia, “which caused significant damage worldwide and since all efforts made to overcome this impact and deal with it have not been successful”.

“India’s presence in the BRICS is a unique opportunity because the Western countries are suspicious of the grouping. They think that China and Russia are the ones who dominate BRICS.”

IANS