I’m not arguing that Russia and China aren’t the principal architects of BRICS. What I’m saying that Indian leadership had the brains to take advantage of trading with BRICS which gave India options that vassals like the EU don’t have today. India would prefer to stay in the western camp, but since the US is putting unacceptable demands on India, they’re able to pivot towards their other option.

Nowhere am I arguing that India is in some way principled. They’re simply being opportunistic, but that’s precisely where the tension with the US emerges. And that’s why I expect the split between the west and India to continue to grow.