‘India’s public appeal to Russia to end the endless war in Ukraine can be read as a counter-signal to Washington’
| Photo Credit: Reuters
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 31-September 1, 2026, and the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026, were remarkable. Iran received considerably more attention and support from members of both the groups, far more than anticipated. More consequential, however, was the shift in India’s stance on the United States-Israel war against Iran and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Traditionally, the SCO and BRICS summits have offered the three major powers — Russia, India and China — an opportunity to demonstrate their mutual solidarity. For Russia, it is a platform from which it can signal to the West that it is not isolated and still has powerful allies. The expansion of the SCO and BRICS under China’s leadership showcases its growing power to the West. For India, the SCO and BRICS have been useful for demonstrating its strategic autonomy. India has sought to remain welcome in both western and non-western forums, from the G-7 to the SCO and BRICS.
Published – October 28, 2026 12:16 am IST
