Bangladesh, Sept. 13 -- As global powers retreat into rival camps, India is betting that strategic autonomy, dialogue and open channels can deliver more influence than choosing sides.

The BRICS summit in New Delhi arrives at a moment when the international system looks increasingly fractured. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are reshaping energy markets, disrupting trade routes and deepening the divide between major powers. Western governments are pressing for clearer alignments, while Russia and China are challenging what they see as a Western-dominated global order.

Against this backdrop, India is offering something increasingly rare: diplomacy without automatic alignment.

As host of the September 12-13 BRICS summit, New Delhi ha...