India’s Role in I2U2 and SCO: A Test of Strategic Autonomy

Summary:

The SCO Summit ended with a joint declaration condemning recent terrorist attacks while China and Russia pushed for a Global South-led governance model opposing hegemonism and power politics. However, the Global North (US, allies) continues to resist such frameworks, escalating wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Yemen, and Venezuela.

India remains the "Elephant in the room" while courted by Russia and China for multipolar integration, India's strategic ties with the US, QUAD, and Indo-Pacific strategy reflect its reluctance to embrace a collective Eurasian framework. Despite limited cooperation within SCO/BRICS, India's policies in Kashmir, Ladakh, and opposition to BRI underscore its egoistic, non-collaborative stance.

This leaves India trapped between its NATO-linked defence dependence and its aspiration for regional leadership, while China and Russia continue to position themselves as architects of a new multipolar world order.

Key Information

• SCO Declaration: Condemned terrorist attacks in Khuzdar (Pakistan), Jaffar Express, and Pahalgam.
• China & Russia: Advocated for Global South-led global governance, rejecting US hegemony.
• Global North Response: Escalation in Gaza, Yemen, Ukraine, and Venezuela as counter pressure.
• India's Position: Courted by China/Russia but aligned with US, QUAD, I2U2 (it is a partnership between India, Israel, the UAE, and the United States, created in July 2022, to work together on economic growth and new technologies), Indo-Pacific strategy.
• Strategic Friction: India wants a multipolar Asia (with itself central), not a multipolar world led by China/Russia.
• Defence Dependence: India has shifted from Russian arms to Western (US, French, German) systems.

Key Points

SCO's Anti-Hegemony Agenda

• Declaration condemned terrorist attacks in Pakistan and India.
• China & Russia promoting true multilateralism and anti-hegemonic global governance.
• Vision aligns with Global South aspirations for equality in world order.

Global North's Counterpressure

• Israel: escalates Gaza War and Yemen strikes.
• Ukraine War: Ongoing, further polarising blocs.
• US Navy in Venezuela: signals new fronts of attrition.
• North's resistance: sustaining dominance against rising multipolarity.

India's Strategic Contradictions

• Courted by China & Russia within SCO/BRICS.
• Still aligned with US Indo-Pacific strategy, QUAD, I2U2.
• Pushes for a multipolar Asia instead of a multipolar world, seeking parity with China.

India's Regional Policies

• Occupied Kashmir repression, suppression in Seven Sisters, Sikh persecution.
• Hostile stance towards Pakistan's sovereignty & BRI projects.
• Egoistic, non-collaborative behaviour undermines SCO/BRICS goals.

India's Defence Dependence on NATO Bloc

• Shifted from Russian MiGs and submarines to French Rafale and German variants.
• Cancelled Russian Mi-17 V5 and Ka-31 helicopter deals.
• $I28 billion trade with US (2024), including $20b+ defence.
• Dependent on NATO-linked hardware strategic "kill-switch" risk.

Strategic Costs of Shifting Alliances

• To align with China/Russia, India would need a complete military and diplomatic overhaul.
• Monetary + strategic burden may deter any genuine shift.
• Current softening towards SCO/BRICS = instrumental, not genuine, to secure 2026 BRICS presidency.

China & Russia's Multipolar Vision 

• China: Global Security Initiative.
• Russia: Eurasian Security Concept.
• Both push for minus-US security frameworks.
• India's reluctance = major obstacle to Global South unity.

Broader Themes and Reflections

• Multipolar World vs Multipolar Asia: India's ambitions clash with collective SCOB/RICSVision.
• Strategic Dependency: Western arms dependence limits India's geopolitical maneuverability.
• Egoism in Regional Politics: India's Kashmir and Ladakh policies show unwillingness for cooperation.
• China & Russia's Opportunity: Position themselves as defenders of Global South sovereignty.
• Fragile Unity: SCO/BRICS face internal contradictions due to India's half-hearted participation.

Relevance for CSS Exam

• Current Affairs & IR: SCO, BRICS, and multipolarity debates vs Western hegemony.
• Pakistan Affairs: India's Kashmir policies and hostility towards BRI directly affect Pakistan.
• Essay Paper: "Rise of multipolar world order challenges and opportunities"
• Security & Strategic Studies: NATO arms dependence undermining India's autonomy.
• Comparative Politics: Global South vs Global North in international governance.
• Regional Studies: India's balancing act between SCO/BRICS and Western alliances.

Terminology Highlight

• SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation): Eurasian bloc promoting security and economic cooperation.
• Global Security Initiative (GSI): China's proposal for a minus-US cooperative security framework.
• Eurasian Security Concept: Russia's vision for regional multilateral security.
• Multipolar World vs Multipolar Asia: Competing visions of global vs region-centric power balance.
• Kill-Switch Dependency: Strategic vulnerability when military hardware is dependent on external suppliers.

Facts and Figures

• SCO Declaration: Condemned terrorist attacks in Khuzdar, Jaffar Express, Pahalgam.
• Global Wealth Inequality: Top 1% controls 40% of global wealth, bottom 50% lives on 2% of wealth
• India-US Trade: $5b (1991) - $I28b (2024). defence trade $20b+.
• India's Defence Shift: Abandoned Russian MiG jets, submarines, helicopters for Western systems.
• Bangladesh Example (contextual): Shows how regional states adopt resilience strategies, unlike India's hegemonic posture.
• India's BRICS Goal: Seeks support for 2026 BRICS presidency.