This talk argues that China–India engagement within BRICS Plus reflects a strategic convergence shaped less by bilateral trust and more by structural compulsions, particularly the stabilising role of Russia and a shared interest in reforming the Western-led international order. Despite deep-seated geopolitical rivalries, both Beijing and New Delhi find common ground in resisting Western dominance and advocating for a more representative, multipolar framework of global governance.

The presentation highlights how Russia functions as a critical balancer, enabling limited China–India coordination within BRICS Plus. It further examines the normative overlap between the two countries- sovereignty, non-interference, and reform of Bretton Woods institutions-while underscoring persistent divergences in strategic outlook, regional ambitions, and interpretations of multipolarity. In other words, the talk contends that BRICS Plus does not resolve China–India tensions but institutionalizes a pragmatic coexistence. It offers both powers a platform to selectively align against Western dominance while preserving their competitive dynamics, thereby reinforcing a fragmented yet resilient multipolar order.

About the speaker

Prof Jagannath Panda is the Head of the Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs (SCSA-IPA). He is also the Executive Editor for ISDP.

In addition to his primary appointment at ISDP, Dr Panda is a Professor at the Department of Regional and Global Studies at the University of Warsaw. He is also the Director for Europe-Asia Research Cooperation at the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS); and a Senior Fellow at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) in the Netherlands.