The global political landscape is changing rapidly. Growing competition between the United States and China, the Russia-Ukraine war, instability in West Asia, energy-security concerns, technological competition, and changes in global supply chains have created new challenges for countries around the world.
At such a time, an important feature of India’s foreign policy is becoming increasingly visible: rather than depending entirely on any single power bloc, India is maintaining relationships with different countries and multilateral platforms according to its national interests.
The image you shared presents this idea as “India in a Multi-Node World.” However, some statements in the image—such as “BRICS may not be multipolar anymore”—are analytical opinions rather than official conclusions. Therefore, it is important to examine India’s relationships with BRICS, SCO, QUAD and its major bilateral partners separately to understand the facts.
India Is Not Part of a Single Camp
India’s foreign policy has long given importance to Strategic Autonomy. This does not mean that India avoids partnerships or cooperation with other countries. Rather, it means that India seeks to retain the freedom to make decisions on international issues according to its own national interests.
India cooperates with the United States in areas such as technology, defence, trade and the Indo-Pacific. At the same time, India maintains longstanding defence, energy and strategic relations with Russia. India also has extensive cooperation with the European Union in areas such as trade, technology, investment, climate change and connectivity.
This is why India’s foreign policy cannot be fully understood by simply placing the country in one particular “camp.”
India and the QUAD: Cooperation with the United States, Japan and Australia
The QUAD is an important example of India’s multi-dimensional diplomacy. It consists of India, the United States, Japan and Australia.
The QUAD focuses on cooperation aimed at creating a free, open, prosperous and resilient Indo-Pacific region. Its areas of cooperation include health security, climate change, critical and emerging technologies, cybersecurity, infrastructure, maritime issues and disaster relief.
In May 2026, the QUAD Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was also held in New Delhi, where India, the United States, Japan and Australia discussed cooperation in areas including critical minerals and Indo-Pacific energy security.
This clearly demonstrates that India considers strategic cooperation with the United States and its major partners important.
On the Other Hand, India Has an Important Role in BRICS
India is a founding member of BRICS. The grouping has expanded considerably in recent years.
The current BRICS members are Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
BRICS primarily aims to strengthen cooperation among countries of the Global South and promote discussions on reforms in global institutions. It is not a military alliance like NATO and does not have a traditional binding treaty-based structure or permanent secretariat. Its decisions generally move forward on the basis of consensus.
An important fact is that India holds the BRICS presidency in 2026. Brazil formally handed over the presidency to India in December 2025.
Therefore, it would not be factually correct to say that India is moving away from BRICS.
Is BRICS Really a “Power Pole”?
This is where the statement in the image—“BRICS may not be multipolar anymore”—needs to be understood carefully.
It would not be accurate to simply describe BRICS as a single political or military “pole.” BRICS is a multilateral platform for cooperation and coordination, where individual countries have their own national interests.
For example, India and China have disagreements over border and strategic issues, while both countries participate together in platforms such as BRICS and the SCO.
Similarly, India and Russia have a longstanding special and privileged strategic partnership.
Therefore, BRICS is better understood as a multilateral cooperation platform rather than a traditional military or political alliance.
India’s Presence in the SCO
India is also a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
The SCO focuses on areas such as regional security, cooperation against terrorism, economic and regional cooperation, and dialogue among member countries.
In September 2026, the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO was held in Kyrgyzstan, with India and other member countries participating.
This is particularly significant because India shares the SCO platform with countries such as Russia, China and Iran, as well as Pakistan.
In other words, India participates in a platform where several of its strategic partners as well as competitors are present together.
India’s Longstanding Strategic Relationship with Russia
India-Russia relations have been an important pillar of India’s foreign policy for decades.
The two countries have extensive cooperation in political relations, defence, trade, energy, science and technology and other strategic areas. Their relationship is officially described as a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.”
Russia’s importance to India is not limited to the defence sector. The two countries also cooperate in areas such as energy, nuclear cooperation and space.
Therefore, India’s growing cooperation with the United States does not automatically mean that India is ending its relationship with Russia.
India’s Partnership with Europe Is Also Growing
India’s relationship with the European Union has also become increasingly broad and significant.
Cooperation covers areas such as trade, investment, digital technology, climate change, connectivity, critical technologies and supply chains.
In January 2026, India and the European Union advanced the “Towards 2030: A Joint India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda,” aimed at strengthening their strategic partnership.
This also highlights an important aspect of India’s foreign policy: India is developing cooperation with different centres of power in different areas.
India and China: Both Cooperation and Competition
India-China relations are perhaps the most complex example of this multi-node approach.
The two countries cooperate in economic and multilateral forums, but serious challenges also exist because of border disputes and strategic competition.
This is why India continues dialogue and multilateral cooperation with China while simultaneously strengthening platforms such as the QUAD, the Indo-Pacific framework and other strategic partnerships.
Therefore, it is difficult to understand India-China relations through a simple “friend or enemy” framework.
What Does India’s “Multi-Node” Strategy Mean?
In simple terms, a Multi-Node World means a world in which global influence is not concentrated in only one or two countries.
Today, the United States, China, Europe, Russia, India, Japan, Gulf countries, ASEAN and various countries of the Global South all have significant influence in different areas.
India is developing multiple “nodes” or partnership centres in this changing international environment.
For example:
United States → Technology, defence, investment and Indo-Pacific cooperation
Russia → Defence, energy and strategic cooperation
Europe/EU → Trade, technology, investment and green economy
Japan → Infrastructure, technology and Indo-Pacific cooperation
Gulf countries → Energy, investment, trade and connectivity
BRICS → Global South and global governance reforms
SCO → Regional security and Eurasian cooperation
QUAD → Indo-Pacific cooperation
ASEAN → Trade, connectivity and regional cooperation
Africa/Global South → Development partnerships and South-South cooperation
This is the central message of the image.
Is India Trying to Be “Friends with Everyone”?
It would also be an oversimplification to describe India’s policy simply as “being friends with everyone.”
In international politics, partnership, competition, disagreements and cooperation can exist simultaneously between countries.
India can cooperate with one country in one area while having differences with that same country in another area.
This is one of the complexities of modern diplomacy.
India’s objective appears to be maintaining multiple options for pursuing its national interests while avoiding excessive dependence on any single country or group.
Why Is India’s BRICS Presidency Important in 2026?
The year 2026 is particularly important for India because India holds the BRICS presidency.
After Brazil’s presidency in 2025, India took over the leadership of BRICS for 2026.
This gives India an opportunity to influence discussions on issues related to the Global South, economic cooperation, technology, development and reforms in global institutions.
However, it is important to remember that all BRICS members do not necessarily agree with India on every issue.
Conclusion: India’s Strength Lies in Having Multiple Options
The world is increasingly moving toward an international system in which power is not concentrated in a single centre.
In this environment, one of the most important aspects of India’s foreign policy is strategic autonomy and issue-based partnerships.
India can work with the United States, Japan and Australia through the QUAD; cooperate with Russia, China, Iran, Brazil and other countries through BRICS; engage with Russia, China and Central Asian countries through the SCO; and simultaneously strengthen economic and strategic partnerships with the European Union and Gulf countries.
Therefore, the most accurate way to understand the central message of the image is
India is not limiting itself to a single camp. Instead, it is strengthening relationships with different centres of power according to its national interests.
However, it would not be factually appropriate to present this as “India taking control of the new world order” or to claim that “BRICS has ended.” The available official information instead shows that India remains actively engaged with BRICS, SCO, QUAD and a wide range of bilateral partnerships.
Note: This article is based on the available official information and the geopolitical context up to 2026. The analytical statements shown in the image have not been presented as established facts.
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