Unmukt

Tag: BRICS

  • Modi Between Trump and Putin: How India Wins in Global Power Politics Without Firing a Shot

    “Modi may not have been in the room with Trump and Putin, but India’s silent diplomacy is reshaping global power. How India turned U.S.–Russia tensions into a strategic win.”

    In global politics, power isn’t always won on the battlefield or at the negotiating table. Sometimes, the biggest victory comes quietly—without firing a shot. As Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin capture headlines with bold statements and confrontations, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears to be the real beneficiary of their rivalry.

    India’s Balancing Act in a Polarized World

    For decades, nations have been forced to choose sides between Washington and Moscow. Yet India has carved out its own lane.

    • With Russia, India shares defense ties, energy trade, and a growing partnership in Arctic exploration.
    • With the United States, India cooperates strategically in the Indo-Pacific and technology sectors.
    • With China, India maintains a tense balance, ensuring Beijing cannot ignore New Delhi’s global rise.

    This multi-directional diplomacy ensures that while others clash, India gains room to maneuver.

    Turning Sanctions into Opportunity

    When the U.S. imposed secondary sanctions on Russia, many expected India to retreat. Instead, India increased Russian oil imports by nearly 50%, securing energy at discounted rates. What was meant to isolate Russia created an economic window for India—strengthening its energy security while keeping inflation in check.

    The Polar Game: Arctic and Antarctic

    Beyond oil, India has positioned itself in a lesser-discussed arena: the poles. With research stations in both the Arctic and Antarctic, India is preparing for future battles over resources and trade routes. Russia may control territory, but lacks the capital to fully develop it. India, with its investments, is quietly securing a seat at tomorrow’s negotiating table.

    Modi’s Patience vs Trump’s Impulsiveness

    Trump is often portrayed as unpredictable and impulsive. Putin is seen as a power broker who thrives on strength. Modi, in contrast, has built his foreign policy around patience and quiet moves. Instead of loud confrontations, India leverages opportunities—whether in trade, technology, or diplomacy—while keeping its long-term interests secure.

    This “silent diplomacy” is what makes India unique. While Trump and Putin dominate news cycles, Modi is scripting gains that will last far longer.

    The Unmukt Perspective

    At Unmukt, we view this as more than just geopolitical satire. It’s a lesson in 21st-century statecraft. Victories are no longer about who speaks the loudest—they’re about who plays the longest game.

    In the triangle of U.S. sanctions, Russian energy needs, and Chinese ambitions, Modi has managed to position India as indispensable. Without firing a single shot, India emerges stronger—proof that sometimes silence is the most powerful move in global diplomacy. this silence, India has carved out its space as a power that others must take into account.

  • BRICS 2025: How the Global South Alliance Could Reshape the World Order

    By Unmukts.com News Analysis Desk

    The global balance of power is shifting, and one alliance is at the heart of this transformation — BRICS. Comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, BRICS was once dismissed by Western analysts as an economic buzzword without strategic weight. But in 2025, this bloc is emerging as a coordinated geoeconomic powerhouse with ambitions to de-dollarize trade, counter U.S. tariffs, and build a multipolar global order.

    Why BRICS Matters in 2025

    In recent months, U.S. policymakers have imposed tariffs and trade restrictions not only on rivals like China and Russia but also on partners such as India and Brazil. This unprecedented move has united all BRICS nations against Washington’s economic pressure, creating a rare moment of strategic alignment.

    Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has called for a joint BRICS response to U.S. pressure — a sign that the bloc is ready to move beyond symbolic summits into real coordinated action.

    BRICS 2025 Strategic Arsenal

    BRICS is now leveraging its combined economic and political strength in four key areas:

    1. De-Dollarization: Trading in Local Currencies

    • BRICS countries are actively working to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar.
    • Bilateral trade in yuan, rupees, rubles, reais, and rand shields members from U.S. sanctions and currency manipulation.
    • This move challenges the petrodollar system that has dominated global finance for decades.

    2. Strengthening the New Development Bank (NDB)

    • Founded in 2014, the NDB is positioned as a World Bank alternative for the Global South.
    • By offering loans without political strings, it strengthens BRICS influence in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
    • Expansion to include new members like Egypt and Saudi Arabia is already in discussion.

    3. Creating a SWIFT Alternative

    • Western sanctions have weaponized the SWIFT payment network.
    • BRICS nations are developing an independent cross-border payment system, ensuring trade can continue even if members are excluded from Western systems.

    4. Challenging U.S. Tariffs at the WTO

    • By coordinating legal challenges at the World Trade Organization, BRICS can collectively pressure Washington.
    • Such unified action multiplies the negotiating power of each member state.

    The Scale of BRICS Economic Power

    BRICS is no longer a “developing economies” club — it’s a global heavyweight:

    • Population: 40% of the world’s total (over 3.2 billion people)
    • GDP: ~$30 trillion — nearly equal to the U.S. economy
    • Nuclear Capability: Greater combined arsenal than Washington
    • Natural Resources: Dominant reserves of oil, gas, rare earths, and agricultural output
    • Strategic Markets: China and India as manufacturing and consumption giants; Brazil and Russia as resource powerhouses; South Africa as Africa’s trade gateway

    Why U.S. Pressure Could Unite BRICS Further

    For the first time, the U.S. has directly targeted all BRICS members with tariffs or sanctions — including countries like India and Brazil that Washington once counted as partners. This aggressive approach risks backfiring, pushing BRICS members toward deeper cooperation.

    • India faces tariffs just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans a visit to China, potentially warming ties between Asia’s two largest economies.
    • Brazil is positioning itself as a vocal advocate for Global South independence from Western dominance.
    • Russia & China are already deepening trade and military coordination after years of U.S. sanctions.

    From Acronym to Geoeconomic Alliance

    When Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neill coined “BRIC” in 2001, it was simply a projection of emerging market growth. South Africa joined in 2010, and since then BRICS has evolved into a strategic coalition seeking to:

    • Reform global financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank
    • Build trade systems independent of Western control
    • Expand its membership to include other Global South powers

    The post-Ukraine geopolitical climate has supercharged BRICS ambitions, turning it into the flagship of multipolarity.

    The Future: A Multipolar World Driven by the Global South

    The early 2000s unipolar era — when the U.S. set the rules — is over. BRICS is now a symbol of the Global South’s collective rise. With massive populations, economic diversity, and resource wealth, BRICS does not need to outgun the United States militarily. It already holds economic leverage that can reshape global trade and finance.

    This is not just about opposing Washington. It’s about building a world where power is shared, currencies are diversified, and development is driven by cooperation rather than coercion.