'To Please US?': Centre Faces Criticism After India Skips BRICS Naval Exercise Amid Chabahar Tensions

New Delhi: India has declined to participate in the BRICS naval exercise, which began earlier this month for a couple of reasons, as per the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

The development happens as reports come regarding India’s exit from the Chabahar port project due to pressures from the United States, including President Trump’s recent threat of a 25 percent additional tariff on countries doing business with Tehran.

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While the analysts have linked India’s backing out of the BRICS naval exercise to the choice to border tensions with China and India’s view of the BRICS as an economic forum, not military, critics have pointed out that the decision was under U.S. sanctions.

While the opposition criticizes the moves as yielding to U.S. influence, supporters see a pragmatic balancing of ties with the U.S., Russia, and Iran. Currently, India is in touch with the United States to implement the short-term sanctions waiver to continue its work at Iran’s strategically located Chabahar port.

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Sharing the MEA spokesperson’s response, Congress media chief Supriya Shrinate said asked, why India backed from the exercise. “We also exited the Chabahar Port project. Why? We are constantly sacrificing our own strategic interests to please Trump,” Shrinate wrote on her X handle, adding that India has never had a weak PM like Modi.

So India was invited to a BRICS naval exercise with Russia, China, Iran & South Africa. We backed out. Why?

We also exited the Chabahar Port project. Why?

We are constantly sacrificing our own strategic interests to please Trump. Why?

India has never had a weak PM like Modi pic.twitter.com/8kOGs6AfXv

— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) January 17, 2026