NEW DELHI – BRICS leaders gathered in New Delhi on Saturday for a summit centered on trade, investment and global crises, as the expanding bloc works to strengthen its influence on issues affecting emerging and developing economies.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and leaders from the group’s other eight member states. The meeting is taking place against a backdrop of war in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East and deepening U.S.-China tensions, all of which are testing whether BRICS can present a united front despite the competing interests of its members.
Security was tightened across the Indian capital, with thousands of police and paramilitary personnel stationed near the summit venue and in other parts of New Delhi. Traffic restrictions and diversions were also imposed as part of the arrangements.
BRICS was established in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, before South Africa joined in 2010. The bloc has since grown to 11 members and now accounts for roughly half of the global population as well as a major portion of the world economy. In recent years, it has become more vocal in demanding a larger role for developing nations in international institutions.
The agenda is expected to cover economic cooperation, energy, food security, technology, supply chains and reform of global governance bodies. Another major focus will be reducing dependence on the U.S. dollar, with members advocating wider use of national currencies in trade and payments while seeking alternatives to financial systems dominated by the West.
For India, the summit underscores its effort to preserve strategic relationships with Russia and Iran while continuing to expand ties with the United States and Europe. New Delhi has been working to balance its long-standing partnerships with Moscow and Tehran alongside growing economic, defense and technology cooperation with Washington and other Western capitals.
India has kept close relations with both Moscow and Tehran despite the Ukraine war and tensions between Iran and the U.S., while repeatedly urging dialogue and diplomacy as the path to resolving conflicts. Modi held separate meetings with Putin and Pezeshkian in New Delhi on Friday ahead of the summit.
Iran’s role as a member of the expanded BRICS grouping adds another layer of complexity, with Tehran directly involved in the Middle East war. The conflict is placing fresh strain on the bloc’s cohesion as members manage differing positions on the fighting and on relations with the United States.
One of the key diplomatic tests for India will be whether it can bring leaders together behind a joint statement. Those divisions surfaced in May, when BRICS foreign ministers could not agree on a joint statement over the Iran war, leaving India to release a chair’s summary instead.
