One photograph from the BRICS Business Summit in New Delhi captured India’s diplomatic position in a deeply divided world.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen holding hands with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa standing alongside them.
The image drew attention because of its timing. Iran is at the centre of a conflict that has disrupted energy supplies and maritime trade, while Russia remains under sweeping Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
India has kept its channels open with both countries while continuing to maintain its strategic partnership with the United States and other Western powers.
This approach was evident during PM Modi’s bilateral meeting with Pezeshkian, where the Prime Minister called for an end to hostilities through dialogue and diplomacy. He also stressed that civilians, commercial vessels and seafarers must be protected, and that freedom of navigation and commerce must not be disrupted.
PM Modi struck a similar note during his separate meeting with Putin. The two leaders discussed defence, energy, trade and strategic cooperation, with Modi reiterating India’s call for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
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New Delhi has consistently maintained that it is not passively neutral, but stands on the side of peace. At the same time, it has avoided being drawn into rival geopolitical camps, continuing to engage countries on opposing sides of global conflicts.
That balancing act shaped India’s stewardship of the summit, which has cooperation as one of its central themes.
The photograph summed up that approach: India positioned at the centre, engaging both Iran and Russia while keeping space open for dialogue and cooperation in an increasingly fractured world.