In this exclusive interview, Think BRICS host Lorenzo Maria Pacini sits down with former Ambassador Pankaj Saran, former Deputy National Security Advisor of India, to unpack the complex realities of strategic autonomy and non-alignment. Discover why India, a founder of BRICS, refuses to be boxed into a single geopolitical alliance. From the upcoming BRICS Summit Delhi to the delicate balance of India Russia relations and the persistent tensions in India China relations, this conversation explores how a nation of 1.4 billion people navigates a world of multipolarity.
As the global landscape shifts toward multipolarity, India's foreign policy remains a masterclass in strategic autonomy. In this episode, Ambassador Pankaj Saran and Lorenzo Pacini delve into India's role in BRICS 2026 and beyond, explaining why the organization is a non-western—but not anti-western—body. The discussion covers the geopolitical strategy behind India’s mediation in the Gulf, its "strategic simultaneity" in dealing with The West and the Global South, and the practicalities of the RELOS agreement within international relations. Learn how diplomacy and national interest drive partnerships with Russia, the U.S., and Europe simultaneously. This Think BRICS special provides deep insights into the 5,000-year-old civilization’s approach to modern multipolarity and its vision for a fairer world order.
While this interview provides an extensive look at international relations, it does not provide a granular breakdown of specific trade tariffs or the technical specifications of military hardware mentioned in the context of India Russia relations. The video focuses on geopolitical strategy rather than internal Indian domestic politics or specific economic micro-trends. Additionally, while Pankaj Saran touches upon the Global South, the video does not analyze the individual foreign policy of every new BRICS member in detail. This session is centered on high-level diplomacy and India's overarching role on the world stage, leaving aside specific community-level socio-economic impact studies.
#india #brics #geopolitics
00:00 – Meet Ambassador Pankaj Saran: Inside India's Foreign Policy
01:35 – Does India Truly Belong in BRICS? The Founder's Perspective
03:28 – Why 1.4 Billion People Can’t Be Boxed Into One Alliance
05:18 – BRICS is Non-Western, Not Anti-Western: India’s Stance
06:33 – India as a Global Mediator: Bringing Iran and UAE to the Table
08:35 – The New Delhi Consensus: How India Achieves 99% Diplomatic Agreement
11:54 – Modi in Europe vs. Putin in China: Navigating Global Competition
13:13 – The End of Binary Alliances: Moving Beyond "With Us or Against Us"
14:15 – Strategic Simultaneity: How the Post-Alliance World Functions
16:13 – The India-Russia RELOS Agreement: Practical Defense Logistics Explained
19:02 – Managing the Russia-China-India Triangle: Friendship vs. Hostility
20:51 – Will the 18th BRICS Summit in Delhi Be a Historic
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