India's Silence on US-Israel-Iran War Undermines BRICS Chair Role
Reza Assadi argues that India, as BRICS chair in 2026, has remained conspicuously silent on the US-Israel war against Iran, abandoning its traditional strategic autonomy. The article details India's co-sponsorship of UN Security Council Resolution 2817 condemning Iran, its failure to condemn the sinking of Iranian frigate IRIS Dena by USS Charlotte, and Prime Minister Modi's Knesset address praising Israel just before the war. India has reduced Russian oil imports under US tariff pressure, allowed the Chabahar sanctions waiver to expire, and avoided taking a lead role in diplomatic efforts. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has instead coordinated with Pakistan, China, and Russia. The May 14-15 BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting in New Delhi is seen as a test of India's willingness to act as chair. The article contrasts India's vocal defense of strategic autonomy during the Ukraine war with its current deference to US pressure, calling the shift from strategic autonomy to strategic vassalage.
Key facts
- India co-sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 2817 on March 11, 2026, condemning Iran without mentioning the US or Israel.
- Modi addressed the Knesset 36 hours before the first strikes on Iran, receiving the Speaker of the Knesset Medal.
- Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was sunk by USS Charlotte on March 4, 2026, killing 104 sailors.
- India agreed to open Kochi port for Iranian ships on March 1, but the Dena was sunk before reaching it.
- India's Russian oil imports fell 33% from mid-2025 to February 2026 under US tariff pressure.
- The Chabahar sanctions waiver expired on April 26, 2026, with India divesting from the port.
- Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Pakistan, Oman, Russia, and China in late April/early May 2026.
- India has not issued a statement on the Minab school attack that killed 120 children on February 28.
- President Droupadi Murmu has made no public statement on the war in two months.
- The BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting in New Delhi on May 14-15 is a litmus test for India's chair role.
Entities
Institutions
- BRICS
- United Nations Security Council
- Ministry of External Affairs (India)
- Indian Oil Corporation
- Reliance Industries
- US Treasury Department
- Knesset
- Indian Navy
- US Navy
- Sri Lankan Navy
- The Wire
- GLOBSEC
- ORF Austria
- Corriere della Sera
- GMF Brussels Forum
- Economic Times
- IIM Raipur
Locations
- India
- Iran
- Israel
- United States
- Pakistan
- Oman
- Russia
- China
- Sri Lanka
- Kochi
- Visakhapatnam
- Galle
- Minab
- Tehran
- Islamabad
- Muscat
- St. Petersburg
- Beijing
- Delhi
- New Delhi
- Strait of Hormuz
- Persian Gulf
- Indian Ocean
- West Asia
- Central Asia
- Gwadar
- Chabahar
- Kolkata
- Chennai
- Donbass
- Black Sea
- Ukraine
- Gaza
- Iraq