The 18th BRICS summit is taking place in India this weekend, with leaders from China and Russia expected to attend. The expanded group, which includes new members such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, is facing questions regarding its common mission and purpose. India has adopted the slogan "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability" to encompass the goals of both original and new members. Mihaela Papa, director of the BRICS Lab at MIT, commented that this slogan reinterprets BRICS as a joint mission rather than merely a collection of country names.
Sushant Singh, a lecturer in South Asian Studies at Yale University, noted that the vague slogan reflects India's intention to maintain a low-key and neutral stance, avoiding offense to Russia or China while also acknowledging India's growing alignment with the United States. The summit is significant due to India's rising geopolitical status, contrasting with last year's gathering in Brazil, where many leaders, including Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, did not attend.
The participation of China's leadership is seen as crucial, with speculation that it could indicate BRICS' strength as a stabilizing force, particularly if leaders from Iran and the UAE can cooperate. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is confirmed to attend, while UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is expected to send representatives. Saudi Arabia's status within BRICS remains ambiguous.
The summit will also facilitate bilateral meetings, including one between Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as a potential meeting between Xi and Modi amidst ongoing tensions between China and India. However, Singh expressed skepticism about the summit yielding substantial outcomes, stating that the focus for India is on improving trade ties without confrontation with the West.
Modi has framed BRICS as a platform for the 'Global South' to unite on various issues, emphasizing a people-centric approach. However, Singh argues that India does not prioritize BRICS and is uncomfortable with the group's perceived anti-Western stance. India's non-aligned position may allow it to play a bridging role among competing powers, according to Papa, who noted that India's geopolitical weight could keep BRICS focused on practical cooperation and global governance reform.
As BRICS approaches its 18th anniversary, it faces challenges in coherence and purpose, despite representing nearly half the world's population and about 40% of global GDP. The group has called for reforms in global governance and condemned tariffs, but internal contradictions and differing political systems among members complicate consensus-building. Papa anticipates progress in trade, monetary cooperation, and agriculture during the summit, with discussions likely to center on enhancing trade relations and addressing food security. However, Singh remains skeptical about the group's ability to achieve significant outcomes, given the current global landscape and internal challenges.