The BRICS alliance opened its two-day summit in New Delhi on Saturday, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosting leaders from the 11-member bloc. As the group marks its 20th anniversary, the summit faces significant pressure from ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, which continue to disrupt global energy markets and shipping routes. The meeting serves as a critical test for the expanded coalition as it seeks to strengthen its influence within the Global South.
In a joint declaration, the member nations expressed “deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions” in the Middle East, urging all parties to exercise “maximum restraint.” The statement specifically warned against targeting civilian infrastructure and nuclear facilities. Furthermore, the bloc reaffirmed its stance on Palestine, declaring “firm opposition” to the forced displacement of Palestinians and any attempts to alter the demographic or geographic status of occupied territories. The declaration also advocated for an end to violence in Gaza, support for UNRWA, and full United Nations membership for Palestine.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, visiting India for the first time in seven years, emphasized that the regional conflict serves no one’s interests. According to state media, Xi noted that the ongoing war has caused severe losses across the Gulf region and the Middle East, undermining the shared interests of the international community. Other notable attendees include Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and leaders from South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. The UAE was represented by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, while Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira attended on behalf of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The summit agenda covers a broad range of topics, including the development of non-Western cross-border payment systems, artificial intelligence cooperation, and a unified front against unilateral trade sanctions. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi highlighted the link between regional security and economic stability, calling for the protection of international navigation freedom during a closed session.
Economic friction remains a central theme, as finance ministers and central bank governors within the bloc have criticized recent tariffs and non-tariff measures as violations of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. These tensions are exacerbated by US President Donald Trump, who has labeled the group “anti-American” and threatened punitive tariffs against countries that align with the bloc. The US has frequently used such trade measures to pressure member states into policy shifts.
The summit also features high-level participation from international organizations, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the heads of the WTO and the World Health Organization. Ahead of the formal sessions, Prime Minister Modi held bilateral talks with President Putin to strengthen ties and met with President Pezeshkian to discuss maritime security, specifically the safety of crews in the Strait of Hormuz.
As New Delhi navigates its role as host, it faces a delicate balancing act between managing internal diverse interests and addressing external economic pressures. The primary challenge remains whether the expanded BRICS membership can effectively translate its collective economic weight into tangible empowerment for the Global South while maintaining unity on contentious geopolitical issues. The report also notes that calling for calm in the Middle East and stressing the need to work together to maintain the smooth flow of global trade, supply chains and energy, the BRICS group of nations has unanimously adopted a joint declaration. The report also notes that with wars in the Middle East and Ukraine disrupting energy and shipping, tariffs squeezing members, and BRICS countries at odds over how to answer either challenge, the presidency of the 11-member bloc has passed to New Delhi at a difficult moment. The report also notes that his first visit to the country in seven years as the two Asian giants seek to thaw relations, president Xi arrived in the Indian capital on Saturday morning. The report also notes that “As the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region continues to evolve, the war there has caused serious losses to people across the region,” China’s Xinhua quoted Xi as saying. The report also notes that it “does not serve the common interests of the international community”, Xi said. The report also notes that bRICS – which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – was created in 2006 as BRIC by the first four countries as a forum for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in institutions dominated by Western powers. The report also notes that both members, are on opposing sides of the war waged on Iran by the United States and Israel, iran and the UAE.