BRICS Summit: India’s outreach to Nepal, Bangladesh may strengthen South Asian ties

India’s invitations to Nepal and Bangladesh for the BRICS outreach session could strengthen South Asian engagement with the Global South and provide an opportunity to reset bilateral ties, amid changing political circumstances and renewed efforts towards regional cooperation, a report said

New Delhi: As India prepares to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi next month, its invitations to non-member countries Bangladesh and Nepal for the grouping’s outreach session carry wider significance — strengthening engagement across South Asia, a recent report has said.

The participation of Nepalese and Bangladeshi premiers could strengthen South Asia’s collective engagement with the Global South while opening a new chapter in bilateral relations among the three neighbouring countries, committed to the vision of a prosperous subcontinent, a report has stated.

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The summit comes amid a deepening crisis in international relations which is entering an era of ‘global un-order’, where waves of coercion and retaliation undermine shared rules.

With the global system dominated by the reckless pursuit of the “might is right” doctrine, the responsibility increasingly falls on peace-loving emerging powers to steer it away from another “macabre episode of bloodbath and destruction”, according to a report in ‘India Narrative’.

According to the report, India has been at the forefront of advocating global peace and cooperation, which reflects, as BRICS’ Chairman, in its theme of ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’.

“India’s prudence in mustering support for the mission is also reflected in its invitation to non-members Bangladesh and Nepal to the BRICS outreach session. BRICS has a regular practice of inviting chairs of regional groupings to its summit, and Bangladesh is currently the BIMSTEC chairman, of which Nepal is also a member,” the report detailed.

The report noted that while the gesture is apparently aimed at strengthening multilateral dialogue on shared global challenges, economic growth and regional connectivity across the Global South, it also provides India and the invitees with an opportunity to reset bilateral ties in the post-uprising era, to the mutual benefit of the countries and the wider subcontinent.

“Post-uprising, both Nepal and Bangladesh present a different situation for India, with Nepal electing a mere five-year-old political party to power with a greenhorn leader as premier, while Bangladesh opted for one with whom India’s relations have historically remained frosty. However, India is determined to navigate through the mist to reset relations. But it seems easier said than done under the current circumstances,” India Narrative mentioned.

According to the report, there is speculation that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar may visit Nepal to formally invite the Nepalese Prime Minister to the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

“Nepal’s invitation to the summit will help the Himalayan republic integrate further with the Global South initiative and will also boost its traditional balanced foreign policy approach, with New Delhi and Beijing available on the same platform,” it noted.

Emphasising the tumultuous nature of bilateral relations among the South Asian neighbours, the report said they have a shared responsibility to navigate their ties with care and caution while strengthening regional cooperation in promoting the Global South mission.