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As the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) marks its 10th anniversary , debates about its environmental and social impact are heating up—but is the criticism justified? Let’s break it down.
Sudheendra Kulkarni, former Director of Operations for India’s Prime Minister’s Office, didn’t hold back in a recent Reality Check interview. He called the BRI the 'largest and most beneficial project in modern history' for global development, dismissing Western claims of environmental harm as 'false allegations.'
'Which global leader has championed green development most passionately? President Xi Jinping,' Kulkarni argued, citing Xi’s mantra: 'Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.'
The BRI’s upcoming Beijing forum aims to boost cooperation, with supporters like Kulkarni urging India to join. 'Asia’s shared prosperity depends on this,' he emphasized, framing the initiative as a bridge between civilizations.
But why the backlash? Critics argue BRI projects risk ecological damage, yet Kulkarni counters that Xi’s vision prioritizes harmony between humanity and nature. 'The BRI could become the world’s greatest accelerator for green development,' he said, calling Western skepticism a refusal to accept 'common prosperity' outside their influence.
Love it or question it, the BRI’s decade-long journey is reshaping global ties—and the conversation isn’t slowing down.
, debates about its environmental and social impact are heating up—but is the criticism justified? Let’s break it down. 
He called the BRI the 'largest and most beneficial project in modern history' for global development, dismissing Western claims of environmental harm as 'false allegations.' 
'Asia’s shared prosperity depends on this,' he emphasized, framing the initiative as a bridge between civilizations.
'The BRI could become the world’s greatest accelerator for green development,' he said, calling Western skepticism a refusal to accept 'common prosperity' outside their influence. 
