The Diplomat published on 27 January 2026 a commentary titled "BRICS Holds a Maritime Exercise at the Indo-Atlantic Crossroads - Without India" by Vrinda Malik, University of Delhi.
The BRICS--China, India, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the UAE--held a maritime exercise in South African waters in January. This was the first time the BRICS expanded into the security domain.
India was the only member to totally absent itself from the naval exercise, suggesting a refusal to be part of a security exercise led by China. Enduring China-India rivalry limits the BRICS' ability to emerge as a cohesive force capable of shaping a new world order.
