What is at stake as BRICS leaders meet in New Delhi?

Leaders and senior officials from the BRICS group of emerging economies are meeting in New Delhi on 12-13 September for the bloc's 18th annual summit, as members seek to deepen economic cooperation while navigating divisions over relations with the West and conflicts involving several member states.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting the summit, which comes as wars and geopolitical tensions disrupt energy markets, shipping routes and global trade, says Al Jazeera.

India has deployed more than 30,000 security personnel for the meeting and restricted traffic around hotels hosting foreign delegations.

What is BRICS and how large is it?

BRICS was established in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa joined in 2010.

The group expanded significantly after its 2023 decision to invite Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Argentina was also invited but declined after Javier Milei became president. Indonesia formally joined in 2025.

The group now has 11 members and represents about 49% of the world's population and roughly 40% of global gross domestic product, according to the figures provided.

The expansion has given BRICS a broader geographic and economic footprint, but also increased the diversity of interests within the group.

Who is attending?

Modi is attending alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Xi's visit is his first to India in seven years. India and China have continued to manage tensions stemming from their disputed border, including a deadly military clash in 2020.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is not attending in person because of local elections and is represented by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira.

Among the newer members, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto are attending.

Saudi Arabia is represented by Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, while Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan represents the UAE.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala are among the international figures attending. Officials and leaders from countries including Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Nigeria, Kazakhstan and Cuba are also participating.

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was invited as the current chairman of BIMSTEC, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, but did not attend.

What is on the economic agenda?

India's presidency has set the theme of the summit as "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability".

A central focus is strengthening trade and economic resilience as members face sanctions, tariffs and disruptions to global supply chains.

BRICS members are discussing greater energy cooperation, artificial intelligence and ways to make supply chains less vulnerable to external pressure.

Alternative payment systems are another area of discussion. Russia is pushing discussions on digital currency-based trade settlements and other cross-border payment mechanisms.

The proposals are aimed primarily at making trade between members easier and reducing exposure to financial restrictions, rather than immediately replacing the US dollar as the dominant global currency.

Why are wars affecting the summit?

The summit is taking place against the backdrop of several conflicts involving BRICS members or their regional partners.

The war between the United States, Israel and Iran has disrupted energy markets and shipping routes. Iranian retaliatory strikes against US assets and Gulf infrastructure have also affected the UAE, while Abu Dhabi issued a trade embargo against Iran in August.

The Russia-Ukraine war is another major issue. BRICS leaders are assessing the conflict alongside diplomatic efforts, including meetings in Moscow involving Russian President Vladimir Putin and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Tensions also remain around Yemen, where Iran-backed Houthi forces continue to conduct attacks while Saudi-backed Yemeni forces have faced setbacks along the Red Sea coast and around the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait.

These conflicts expose differences among BRICS members, particularly over regional security and relations with the United States and its allies.

Is BRICS an anti-Western alliance?

Not all members see BRICS in the same way.

China and Russia have promoted the group as a mechanism for challenging Western political and economic dominance. India and some other members, however, describe BRICS as non-Western rather than explicitly anti-Western.

For India, the grouping is also a way to maintain strategic autonomy and expand its options without becoming part of an opposing geopolitical bloc.

US President Donald Trump has described BRICS as "anti-American", but the group does not have the structure of a military alliance such as Nato.

Instead, its members have different political systems, economic interests and relationships with Western countries.

How realistic is de-dollarization?

Reducing dependence on the US dollar is a recurring BRICS objective, particularly among members facing US sanctions.

Russia has promoted alternative payment arrangements, while other members have expressed interest in using local currencies or other mechanisms for bilateral trade.

But analysts say a complete move away from the dollar remains difficult.

BRICS economies differ substantially in size, financial systems and monetary policies, while the dollar continues to play a central role in international trade and finance.

As a result, the more immediate goal is likely to be greater flexibility in cross-border payments rather than the rapid creation of a single alternative currency.

What are the divisions within BRICS?

The group's expansion has increased its influence but also made consensus more difficult.

India and China remain strategic competitors despite their participation in BRICS, with their border dispute and economic competition continuing to shape their relationship.

The group's Middle Eastern members also have differing interests, particularly over regional conflicts involving Iran, Saudi Arabia and other states.

There is therefore no single BRICS position on many major international issues.

The group's growing membership gives developing countries more opportunities to cooperate and diversify their diplomatic and economic relationships, but it also means BRICS must accommodate a wider range of national priorities.

What does the summit mean globally?

BRICS has become an important platform for countries seeking greater influence in international institutions and more alternatives in trade, finance and diplomacy.

Its members are seeking ways to reduce vulnerabilities to Western sanctions and tariffs while increasing cooperation among developing economies.

But the group is not a unified military or political alliance. Its members differ over their relationships with the United States, Europe and each other, as well as over regional conflicts.

The New Delhi summit will therefore test whether the expanded group can translate its growing economic weight into practical cooperation while managing those differences.