– “Xi and Modi’s BRICS Warmth Masks a Deep Strategic Rift” – “BRICS Smiles Hide a Growing Rift Between China and India” – “Public Thaw at BRICS Conceals Deep Divisions Between Xi and Modi” – “Friendly Photos, Hard Politics: The True State of Xi and
For a fleeting moment – a staged handshake and a shared smile at the BRICS summit – Xi and Modi seemed to reopen a channel of dialogue. But the optics masked deeper strategic fissures: Asia’s nuclear-armed rivals remain sharply divided over borders, spheres of influence, and the very future of regional security