Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping recently met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan. This meeting was particularly important because it came right after a significant breakthrough in their long-standing border standoff, which lasted almost five years. The tensions between the two neighboring countries have been building since 2020, leading to skirmishes along the border. However, their talks at the summit have opened a new chapter in India-China relations.
Why India and China’s New Friendship Is Bad News for the West
The warming of relations between India and China isn’t just important for the two countries—it’s also bad news for Western defense companies. Western arms manufacturers thrive on tensions between countries. When nations like India and China are at odds, they tend to buy more weapons, which means big profits for companies in the US and Europe.
The entire military-industrial complex of the West benefits when there’s a threat of war. Whether it’s India vs. China or India vs. Pakistan, tensions in South Asia are good for business. Anything that helps improve relations between New Delhi and Beijing is bad news for Western defense giants. The US, in particular, has been selling military equipment to India, and improved India-China relations could disrupt that.
The Road to Peace: What Changed?
Both India and China have been working hard to resolve their border disputes. Since August, leaders on both sides have been using a more cooperative tone, signaling that they’re ready to put the conflict behind them. This wasn’t easy, especially after the violent clash in the Galwan Valley back in 2020, which led to the deaths of soldiers from both sides. But now, after years of diplomatic efforts, it looks like the two countries are ready to move forward. The leaders of both countries seemed very motivated to finally resolve this issue, and it’s likely that their meeting at the BRICS summit will have long-term effects.
What This Means for BRICS and the Global South
The impact of this peace deal between India and China goes beyond just the two countries. It’s also a major boost for BRICS—a group that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Nearly 35 countries have shown interest in joining BRICS, as many developing nations see it as a way to challenge the Western-dominated world order.
For countries in the Global South, which are looking for economic and technical assistance, the improved relations between India and China are particularly important. BRICS could become a more powerful alternative to Western institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, offering new forms of support that don’t come with strings attached.
This newfound cooperation between India and China will help BRICS members form a common agenda, benefiting not just the existing members but also potential new ones. This is especially important for countries that are tired of relying on Western financial systems and are eager to explore other options.
Russia’s Role in the Peace Process
Some experts believe that Russia played a key role in facilitating the India-China peace deal. Russia may have acted as a mediator behind the scenes. Russia, India, and China are the three main pillars of BRICS, and any cooperation between them is seen as a threat by the West, especially the United States.
Russia has long been a trusted ally of India, and their relationship remains strong. However, there has been a trust deficit between India and China in recent years, which the US has used to its advantage. But now, with Modi and Xi Jinping working together more closely, it seems like the situation is changing.
What’s Next for India-China Relations?
While the recent developments are promising, experts advise caution. The talks between Modi and Xi are significant, but it’s too early to say whether they will lead to lasting cooperation. Still, the signs are encouraging.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that Indian troops will be resuming patrols in areas they had to abandon during the standoff in 2020. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also commented that the “status quo” will be restored, meaning that both sides will return to how things were before the conflict.
Despite past tensions, India and China have been cooperating on the international stage in areas like climate change and trade in local currencies. They’ve also worked together in organizations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS. This kind of multilateral cooperation is likely to increase as their bilateral relations improve.
In the end, if India and China continue to build on this momentum, it could lead to greater economic cooperation. However, China will need to be sensitive to India’s interests, especially its bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). India’s involvement in the Quad, a strategic alliance that includes the US, Japan, and Australia, is another area that could affect how these two Asian giants move forward.
For now, though, the world is watching closely to see how this new phase of India-China relations will unfold—and what it will mean for the rest of the globe, particularly for Western powers that have long benefited from tensions in the region.
