BRICS leaders gather in India as wars, US tensions challenge bloc

Leaders of the BRICS countries gathered in New Delhi on Saturday for a summit focused on trade, investment and major global conflicts, as the group seeks to strengthen its influence in international affairs and promote the interests of emerging and developing nations.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and leaders from the other eight BRICS member states.

The summit is taking place amid the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as growing tensions between the United States and China. The developments are testing the bloc's ability to reach consensus among members with different geopolitical interests and foreign policy positions.

Authorities have deployed thousands of police and paramilitary personnel across New Delhi, particularly around the summit venue. Traffic restrictions and diversions have also been introduced in several areas of the capital.

BRICS was established in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, while South Africa joined the group in 2010. The bloc has since expanded to 11 members, collectively representing about half of the world's population and a substantial portion of the global economy. It has increasingly demanded greater representation for developing countries in major international institutions.

The leaders are expected to address economic cooperation, investment, energy, food security, technology, supply chains and reforms to global institutions. Another major issue will be reducing dependence on the US dollar, with member states encouraging the use of national currencies for trade and payments and seeking alternatives to financial institutions dominated by Western countries.

For India, the summit provides an opportunity to demonstrate its strategy of maintaining strong relations with Russia and Iran while simultaneously strengthening ties with the United States and Europe.

New Delhi has sought to preserve its longstanding partnerships with Moscow and Tehran while expanding cooperation with Washington and other Western countries in areas including trade, defence and technology.

India has continued to maintain close relations with Russia and Iran despite the Ukraine war and tensions between Tehran and Washington. At the same time, it has repeatedly called for dialogue and diplomatic efforts to resolve international conflicts. Modi held separate meetings with Putin and Pezeshkian in New Delhi on Friday ahead of the summit.

The summit is also taking place as Iran, one of the expanded BRICS members, remains directly involved in the Middle East conflict. This has created another challenge for the group's unity as member countries hold differing views on the war and on their relationships with the United States.

A major challenge for India as the summit host will be securing a joint declaration from all participating leaders. Differences within the bloc were already visible in May, when BRICS foreign ministers failed to reach agreement on a joint statement concerning the Iran war.