Why this year’s BRICS summit in India matters and what is on the agenda

Iran, Russia, China, India and Saudi Arabia are sitting at the same table. But their interests are not the same. Some are at war. Some are dealing with the effects of war. Others want to maintain relations with the United States as well.

Against this backdrop, the 18th BRICS Summit has begun in New Delhi, India. The two-day summit will continue on September 12 and 13.

India is hosting this year’s summit. The main theme of the summit is “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

More than a dozen heads of state are attending the summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are among them.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is not attending due to elections. The country is being represented by its foreign minister.

Xi Jinping’s participation from China is particularly important. He has visited India after seven years. Relations between India and China had reached a low point in recent years due to border disputes. The ice has now begun to thaw. The summit has created a new opportunity for the leaders of the two countries to normalize relations.

But the issue is not only about relations between the two countries. BRICS faces a bigger question this time.

Amid wars, an energy crisis, sanctions, the dominance of the dollar and changes in global politics, how far can BRICS actually move forward together?

What exactly is BRICS

The name BRICS comes from the five founding countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

It began as an informal economic grouping in 2006. Brazil, Russia, India and China held the first summit in 2009. South Africa joined the following year.

In 2023, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were invited to become members. Argentina was also invited at the same time.

However, then President Javier Milei, who had promised to strengthen ties with the West, rejected the proposal.

After Indonesia joined in 2025, BRICS now has 11 member countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.

Together, these 11 countries represent about 49.5 percent of the world’s population. They account for about 40 percent of global GDP and about 26 percent of global trade.

Vehicles move past a flower display with the BRICS logo ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India. Photo: Reuters. 

A major goal of BRICS is to create more space for its members outside the Western led global economic and political structure.

However, BRICS is not NATO. It is not a military alliance either.

Members do not have to agree on everything. Instead, they want to cooperate on the economy, trade, energy, technology and global governance while maintaining their differences.

That is the strength of BRICS. It is also its biggest weakness.

Why is this summit so important

The world is now facing multiple wars and crises. Russia’s war in Ukraine is continuing. The war between Iran and the United States and Israel has shaken global energy markets. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has declined sharply.

At the same time, the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Iran backed Houthis in Yemen is also escalating rapidly. Concerns have emerged over Bab al Mandab after the Houthis took control of an important area of the Red Sea.

In other words, two important oil routes in the world are under pressure at the same time. In this situation, energy security has become a major issue for BRICS.

India’s priorities this time also reflect that reality. Increasing cooperation on food and energy security, health, disaster management, supply chains, technology and trade will be among the key issues discussed at the summit.

Efforts to protect economies amid sanctions

A major part of the BRICS discussions will focus on the economy.

Russia and Iran are under Western sanctions. As a result, both countries are seeking ways to reduce their dependence on the Western financial system.

Cross border financial transactions have become important in this regard.

BRICS countries will discuss how they can make financial transactions among themselves easier. The Kremlin has said Russia will also discuss settling trade with other member and partner countries using digital currencies.

However, this does not mean abandoning the dollar immediately.

According to analysts, although BRICS members are discussing alternatives to the dollar, the conditions for completely abandoning the dollar have not yet emerged.

This is because the economies, currencies and financial systems of the member countries are very different from one another.

But one thing is clear. Amid sanctions, tariffs, wars and supply chain disruptions, BRICS countries want to create systems among themselves so that they do not have to depend excessively on any one country.

This is not only a question of money. It is also a question of the future trading system.

Iran is BRICS’ toughest test

One of the most difficult issues at this year’s summit could be the war involving Iran. Iran is a BRICS member.

But the United Arab Emirates, which is on the other side of the war, is also a BRICS member.

The impact of the war between Iran and the United States and Israel has already reached the Gulf countries. Fifteen people were killed in Iranian attacks in the United Arab Emirates. They included two military personnel, one civilian contractor and 12 civilians.

In August, the United Arab Emirates also announced trade sanctions against Iran for an indefinite period. This presents BRICS with a very difficult question.

India wants to maintain relations with both Iran and Israel. At the same time, its relationship with Washington is also important.

Therefore, BRICS will likely use general language on state sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law without naming any side.

In other words, they may avoid naming specific sides in the war in order to stay together.

In May, the BRICS foreign ministers also failed to issue a joint condemnation of the war involving Iran.

This showed how deep the differences within the grouping are over the Iran issue.

The same problem exists with the Ukraine war

Russia itself is one of the founding members of BRICS.

Therefore, BRICS’ language on the Ukraine war is always important.

The joint declaration of the 17th summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 2025 did not criticize Russia’s war. Instead, it condemned attacks by Ukraine on Russia.

A major change is unlikely this time either.

However, the situation has changed somewhat.

The United States and Russia are holding talks again. US President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Putin in Moscow. Trump said they had taken a proposal to end the war.

Therefore, it may be relatively easier for BRICS to find common language on the Ukraine war this time.

Still, problems will remain because each member country has different interests.

India and China: Old rivals on the same stage

Another major test for BRICS involves India and China. Relations between the two countries deteriorated rapidly after several soldiers were killed in a clash along the Himalayan border in 2020.

Restrictions were subsequently imposed on trade, investment, visas and travel between the two countries.

In 2024, the two sides reached an agreement on withdrawing troops from the border. Relations have gradually normalized since then. Direct flights have resumed. The visa system has also been eased to some extent.

China became India’s largest source of imports in 2025 and 2026. However, troops are still deployed along the border. Disputes over Arunachal Pradesh and the trade deficit also remain.

Against this backdrop, Xi Jinping’s visit to India after seven years is particularly significant.

A meeting between Xi and Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit could provide an opportunity to further normalize relations.

But mistrust has not completely disappeared. China wants to portray itself as one of the leading voices of the Global South.

India also wants to strengthen its position as a leader of the Global South. There is competition here as well.

What does BRICS actually want to become

This is where the grouping faces its biggest difference of opinion. Russia and China are comfortable viewing BRICS as a counterbalance to the United States and Western powers.

For them, it is an important platform to reduce Western dominance. But India’s position is different.

India does not want to turn BRICS into an anti-Western alliance. Instead, it wants to maintain its strategic autonomy while remaining outside the West.

In other words, India can be a friend of the West. At the same time, it can maintain relations with Russia, Iran or China.

This is India’s policy of “strategic autonomy.” As a result, there is a fundamental difference within BRICS.

While China and Russia want to see BRICS as a counterweight to the West, India wants to keep it as a platform for a multipolar world without turning it into an anti Western grouping. This difference will remain this time as well.

Saudi Houthi conflict is also a major test

Another complicated relationship within BRICS is between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Iran supports the Houthis. Saudi Arabia supports Yemen’s internationally recognized government.

This week, the Houthis seized a large part of Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Their presence has also increased near Bab al-Mandab.

At the same time, Houthi attacks have targeted Saudi Arabia’s energy facilities.

In other words, tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia are rising again. Yet both are BRICS members.

However, an important development has already taken place.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan. They stressed the need to reduce tensions and maintain diplomatic communication.

This shows that despite differences within BRICS, its members do not want to completely close channels of communication with one another.

Is BRICS a threat to the West

US President Donald Trump has viewed BRICS as “anti American.”

His foreign policy has concerns about groups such as BRICS. In particular, Washington is concerned about discussions within BRICS on reducing the dominance of the dollar.

However, according to analysts, BRICS is not yet a unified force capable of replacing the United States.

This is because the interests of its members are different.

Russia has relations with China. India also has close relations with Russia. At the same time, India is strengthening its ties with the United States and Europe.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are in the same grouping while opposing each other. China and India are also rivals.

Therefore, it would be wrong to view BRICS as a military alliance like NATO.

Rather, it is a platform where countries with different views sit together and seek to create more space for themselves.

Where does BRICS’ real strength lie

The strength of BRICS does not lie in its unity. Its strength lies in its ability to remain together despite differences.

According to Alejandro Reyes, an analyst at the University of Hong Kong, BRICS members want to increase their room for decision making in international affairs even though they do not agree with one another.

They want more alternatives. They want alternative financing. They want alternative channels for financial transactions.

They do not want supply chains to become excessively dependent on any one power.

They want to protect themselves to some extent from sanctions, tariffs and political pressure. This is where BRICS becomes important.

A major opportunity for Putin at this summit

Because of the Ukraine war, Russia’s relations with Western countries are at their lowest point.

In this situation, Putin’s presence in New Delhi is diplomatically important for him.

At the BRICS platform, he will be able to show that Russia is not alone even though it is distant from Western countries.

Major countries such as China and India still maintain relations with Moscow.

Russia has already called for BRICS to be developed into a platform for more practical economic cooperation. It is emphasizing making trade, technology, infrastructure, investment and financial transactions more effective.

India has also maintained trade and energy ties with Russia.

Therefore, the BRICS platform is not just a place for Putin to take diplomatic photographs.

It is a place to demonstrate Russia’s alternative relationships despite Western pressure.

China US meeting ahead

Another important moment around the BRICS summit will be the high-level meeting between China and the United States immediately afterward.

Xi Jinping is scheduled to meet Trump on September 24.

In other words, Xi will first sit with BRICS leaders in New Delhi. He will then enter direct talks with Washington.

This is also important for China because competition between the United States and China is increasing in trade, tariffs, technology and security.

Therefore, China does not view BRICS only as an economic grouping. It is also part of its broader global strategy.

Will the dollar really weaken

One of the most discussed issues at BRICS is the dollar. Some members want to increase trade using their own currencies.

Countries such as Russia and Iran are more interested in this system because of Western sanctions.

But there are practical problems here as well.

The economies of BRICS countries are not similar to one another. The strength of their currencies differs. The depth of their financial markets differs. Their trade patterns are also different.

Therefore, replacing the dollar in a short period is not realistic. Instead, gradually developing alternative transaction systems is more practical.

That is why experts believe BRICS will not become an “anti dollar alliance” anytime soon.

What is the real message for the West

The biggest message from BRICS may not be replacing the dollar. Rather, it is creating alternatives.

The countries are saying they do not want a world where major decisions on trade, finance, technology and security depend on one or several powers.

They want more options. They want alternative financing. They want opportunities to trade in their own currencies.

They want greater influence in international institutions. They want to reduce risks in supply chains.

And they want to protect themselves to some extent from pressure such as sanctions or tariffs.

There is an important reality here.

Analysts believe that a large part of such pressure currently comes from the United States.

Therefore, if Washington views every effort toward strategic autonomy as hostility, it could produce the opposite result.

Countries that do not yet want to fully move toward BRICS could also begin looking for alternatives.

What will this year’s BRICS summit ultimately show

The summit therefore faces two major questions.

The first is whether BRICS can manage its differences and increase practical economic cooperation.

The second is whether it can find language on wars that allows Iran, Saudi Arabia, India, China and Russia to stand at least on common ground.

The summit’s decisions may not provide complete answers to these questions.

That is because BRICS members are neither allies nor enemies of one another.

They are part of a world where a country can trade with one country, maintain military relations with another and have political disputes with a third.

This reality has set BRICS apart from other groupings. Therefore, the success of this summit cannot be measured only by a joint declaration.

Instead, the key question will be whether BRICS can manage its differences and take some practical steps together despite the Iran war, Ukraine war, Saudi Houthi conflict, India China tensions and pressure from the dollar dominated global financial system.

Because the real test for BRICS is not showing unity. It is being able to move forward together despite differences.

And as the world gradually moves toward a multipolar order, the importance of that test is also increasing.

Source: Al Jazeera (Adapted)