A notable disagreement has surfaced within the Indian National Congress over the significance and outcomes of BRICS summits, with veteran leader Shashi Tharoor publicly countering the views of senior Congress functionary P. Chidambaram.
Tharoor, who has long been an advocate of India's multi-directional foreign policy approach, lauded the BRICS grouping for its expanding influence on the global stage. Speaking on the relevance of the bloc — which comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and newly admitted members including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates — Tharoor emphasised that the collective economic and demographic weight of BRICS nations has made it an indispensable forum for shaping discussions on trade, climate finance, and multilateral reform.
His comments came in response to Chidambaram, a former Union Finance Minister known for his measured and often critical analysis of India's economic partnerships. Chidambaram had raised questions about whether India was deriving proportionate strategic and economic returns from its deep engagement with BRICS, particularly given the asymmetric power dynamics within the group and the growing closeness between Beijing and Moscow.
Sources familiar with the exchange indicate that Tharoor rejected the notion that BRICS participation was of limited utility, pointing to the group's role in establishing alternative financial architectures such as the New Development Bank, which has funded infrastructure projects across member states and emerging economies. He also highlighted the bloc's collective bargaining position in ongoing negotiations at the World Trade Organisation and its ability to present a united front on issues ranging from dollar dependency to representation in international institutions.
The disagreement underscores a broader debate within India's opposition parties about how to articulate a coherent foreign policy stance in an increasingly fragmented global order. While some leaders favour maintaining strong ties with Western institutions alongside eastern partnerships, others argue for a more assertive independence that leverages groups like BRICS to redefine global governance structures.
Political analysts note that the Congress party, still finding its footing after a string of electoral setbacks, often struggles to project a unified voice on international issues. The Tharoor-Chidambaram divergence is unlikely to be formally addressed by the party leadership, as neither side has called for a policy reversal and both positions remain within the broad spectrum of India's established diplomatic flexibility.
