Ajay Bisaria

This week we're discussing, what else? The BRICS summit, and whether India's position, given the BRICS declaration, the meetings we saw, the big handshakes, is actually moving away from Western partners to a more traditionally non-aligned policy, or whether New Delhi's rebalancing is purely tactical and momentary.

Uh, with me to discuss this, and I can't think of two better guests, former diplomat and author, uh, of Anger Management, Ajay Bisaria, who's written a number of columns on the BRICS and where he thinks the grouping should go.

Also joining us, Dr. Happyman Jacob, scholar on international relations, author of the new book India After Non-Alignment, who's taken a slightly, uh, uh, if you, if you like, pessimistic view of where the BRICS can actually go.

Uh, but thanks so much for joining us.

And I do want to start with that basic question.

And if I could come to you, uh, Ambassador Ajay Bisaria, how do you see this BRICS declaration now playing out? Does it play into Indian policy? Is it a return to non-alignment, or is this mere rhetoric?

Well, I would say it is, um, going according to policy, and the policy, if the argument is, is strategic autonomy and multi-alignment, or if you don't like the term multi-alignment, multi-vector engagement, I think it's going in that direction.

It's just that in terms of optics, I think India is more on the front foot than a little apologetic and on the back foot at, uh, uh, as it used to be.