New Delhi: Leaders and senior representatives of the expanded BRICS group have gathered in New Delhi for a summit as the conflict involving Iran, Russia's war against Ukraine, disruptions to maritime trade and growing tensions between major powers test the group's ability to reach agreement.
India is hosting the 18th BRICS summit on September 12 and 13 as the group's chair in 2026. The meeting brings together representatives of the 11 BRICS members, along with partner countries and other invited participants.
The summit is taking place at a difficult time for the group. Iran and the United Arab Emirates are both BRICS members, while the wider regional conflict has exposed differences among members over security and foreign policy. Russia's war against Ukraine remains another major international issue, while India and China continue efforts to improve relations after years of tensions.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held separate talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in New Delhi on Friday, ahead of the summit.
During his meeting with Pezeshkian, Modi stressed the need to protect freedom of navigation and commerce and the safety and well being of seafarers.
Modi also stressed the need to address conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy. The issue of maritime security has become increasingly important as the regional conflict has disrupted shipping and affected international trade.
Modi also met Putin on Friday for their second meeting this year. Their previous meeting took place on August 31 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek.
The two leaders discussed political, economic, defence, energy, space and other areas of cooperation. They also discussed BRICS and international and regional developments.
Putin invited Modi to Russia for the next India Russia annual summit, and Modi accepted the invitation. A date for the meeting has not yet been announced.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi on Saturday for the BRICS summit. His visit is his first to India in seven years and comes as the two countries continue efforts to stabilise their relationship.
India and China have been seeking to improve relations since a deadly border clash in 2020. The confrontation killed 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers.
The two countries have since taken steps to reduce tensions, although important differences remain, particularly over their border and wider strategic interests.
BRICS itself faces questions about how effectively its expanded membership can work together.
The group began as a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India and China and later expanded to include South Africa. It now has 11 members: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
According to the Indian government, the 11 members together account for 49.5 percent of the world's population, 40 percent of global gross domestic product and 26 percent of global trade.
The expansion has increased the group's economic and political weight, but reaching agreement has also become more difficult.
BRICS foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement at their meeting in New Delhi in May, reflecting differences over the conflict involving Iran. India issued a chair's statement instead.
The current summit is therefore an important test of whether the leaders can find common ground on major international issues.
Economic cooperation is another central part of the summit. BRICS members have been discussing greater use of national currencies, cooperation between payment systems and reforms to international financial institutions.
The group has also backed greater representation for developing countries in institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
However, BRICS has not created a common currency to replace the US dollar. Efforts to increase the use of national currencies and develop alternative payment arrangements remain under discussion.
India's BRICS chairship is guided by the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability".
The summit agenda includes global governance, economic and financial cooperation, development, innovation, sustainability and other issues affecting developing countries.
India has also described the summit as an opportunity to advance the interests of the wider Global South.
The summit has attracted representatives from partner countries and international organisations. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres is among those attending.
The meeting is also providing an opportunity for India to hold discussions with major powers and other developing countries at a time of growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
The immediate challenge for BRICS is whether its members can produce practical results despite their differences.
With the summit continuing on Sunday, its final position on international conflicts, maritime security, economic cooperation and global governance remains to be seen.