India, China & The BRICS Factor: What The West Won’t Tell You

In this episode of Defence Mantra, Neelanjana Banerjee sits down with Editor-in-Chief Nitin Gokhale to decode the latest round of India–China border talks and their larger implications. The 24th round of Special Representative discussions has opened the door to confidence-building measures—from reopening border trade routes and resuming flights to exploring economic cooperation. But do these steps reflect real progress, or are they merely optics masking deep mistrust?

The conversation also revisits the Kailash Range Operation, carried out by the Indian Army five years ago in eastern Ladakh. This bold manoeuver not only shifted the tactical balance but also brought Beijing back to the negotiating table. What lessons does it hold for India today?

Looking beyond the border, Nitin Gokhale explores how BRICS is emerging as a potential counterweight to Western dominance. Yet, he cautions that much of the global narrative remains controlled by Western media, shaping perceptions in ways that often downplay the growing influence of the Global South.

From military strategy to geopolitics, this episode connects the dots between ground realities and big-power competition.