BRICS Expansion: Is India Losing Influence to China?

BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) recently decided to expand, inviting countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, and Egypt. On the surface, it looks like a win—more members, more weight. But I see a subtle shift. China, being the economic giant in the room, is trying to turn BRICS into a vehicle to challenge the Western-led order (the G7, IMF, World Bank). India is fine with that in principle, but we don’t want it to become a platform dominated by Beijing. With new members like Iran and Saudi Arabia, who are closer to China, India’s voice might get diluted. However, it also gives us a chance to engage with the Middle East on a multilateral level without the baggage of bilateral issues. It’s a double-edged sword. We have to see if India can maintain its unique position as a bridge between the West and the Global South within this expanded group.