S Jaishankar on the diplomatic tight rope of Indian Geopolitics
India is navigating a complex geopolitical landscape, walking a diplomatic tightrope with remarkable dexterity. As global alliances shift and tensions rise, New Delhi is strategically balancing its ambitions through strengthened BRICS engagement, revived Russia-India-China (RIC) dialogue, deepened ties with Iran, and a bold stance on Tibet. Simultaneously, India is countering China’s growing influence in Africa and South America through high-level diplomatic outreach, while managing delicate relations with an untrustworthy China and maintaining ties with Europe. This multifaceted approach underscores India’s emergence as a pivotal player in a multipolar world.
Trump’s Nationalism and the BRICS Pivot
With Donald Trump’s “America First” policies creating uncertainty for U.S. allies, India is doubling down on BRICS—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—to secure economic and strategic leverage. At the 2024 Kazan Summit, India championed BRICS expansion and economic cooperation, positioning the bloc as a counterweight to a U.S.-centric global order. This pivot reflects India’s intent to foster a multipolar world while reducing reliance on Western-led frameworks. However, aligning with Russia and China within BRICS demands careful calibration, given their competing agendas.
Countering China in Africa and South America
China’s expanding footprint in Africa and South America, through initiatives like the Belt and Road, has prompted India to intensify its outreach. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s high-level visits to African nations, such as Nigeria and Ethiopia in 2025, and South American countries like Brazil and Argentina, aim to bolster economic ties and infrastructure partnerships. These visits, coupled with India’s focus on the Global South through forums like the Voice of Global South Summit, position India as an alternative partner, countering China’s influence. Simultaneously, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2025 reflects India’s pragmatic engagement with Beijing, ensuring dialogue on trade and border issues while competing globally.
Europe’s Dual Role: Ally and Critic
India maintains robust bilateral ties with European powers, notably France, a key defense and economic partner. The 2025 India-France strategic dialogue reaffirmed commitments to Rafale jet deals and nuclear energy cooperation. However, the European Union and NATO have targeted India with criticism over its neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and human rights concerns, including EU carbon tariffs and NATO’s Indo-Pacific ambitions. To counterbalance this, India is exploring the revival of the RIC trilateral with Russia and China, while carefully nurturing European ties to avoid isolation.
Reviving RIC and Deepening Ties with Iran
The RIC framework, long dormant, is being reconsidered as a strategic hedge against Western pressure. Engaging Russia and China through RIC allows India to align on select global issues, such as sanctions and trade. Russia remains a critical defense and energy partner, while China’s economic clout necessitates dialogue. Concurrently, India is strengthening ties with Iran, vital for energy security and the Chabahar Port, which offers access to Central Asia. Jaishankar’s 2025 visit to Tehran underscores India’s commitment to this partnership, carefully balanced to avoid antagonizing the U.S. and Europe, wary of Iran’s nuclear program.
The China Challenge: Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh as Strategic Levers
China remains India’s most formidable challenge, with trust eroded by border tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Beijing’s regional assertiveness. India is countering China by amplifying the Tibet issue, particularly the Dalai Lama’s succession. In 2025, India’s parliamentary resolution supported Tibetan autonomy in selecting the next spiritual leader, a direct challenge to Beijing’s interference. Prime Minister Modi and several ministers publicly supported the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday, reinforcing India’s stance. Additionally, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu’s statement that India shares its border with Tibet, not China, sparked debate but was tacitly backed by New Delhi, signaling a bolder approach to China’s territorial claims. These moves leverage Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh as strategic pressure points, even as India engages China in BRICS and RIC.
Managing the Tightrope
India’s ability to juggle these competing priorities showcases its diplomatic agility. Strengthening BRICS and engaging Africa and South America counters China’s global influence. Reviving RIC and ties with Iran hedges against Western pressure. Raising Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh keeps China in check, while ties with France and Europe maintain Western goodwill. Modi’s government has so far managed this high-stakes balancing act, as seen in India’s G20 presidency and mediation in global conflicts.
Yet, the risks are immense. Over-emphasizing BRICS or RIC could strain U.S. and EU relations, while pushing Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh too far might provoke China. Jaishankar’s simultaneous engagement with Xi Jinping ensures dialogue mitigates escalation, but the tightrope remains precarious. India’s pragmatic diplomacy, rooted in strategic autonomy, has positioned it as a global pivot. Whether it can sustain this equilibrium amid intensifying fault lines will define its rise.
Note: This analysis reflects India’s diplomatic strategy as of July 19, 2025, based on recent geopolitical trends and India’s foreign policy moves.