A Bigger, More Diverse Bloc
One of the primary reasons for the heightened focus is the sheer size of the group. What started as a club of five major emerging economies has significantly expanded. In January 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE joined as full members,
with Indonesia following in 2025. This has transformed BRICS into an 11-member bloc representing nearly half the world's population and a substantial portion of global GDP. The expansion brings immense economic and demographic weight but also introduces a wider array of national interests and potential for internal division. Managing this newfound diversity and ensuring consensus is a massive undertaking, making the preparations for the New Delhi summit a critical test of the bloc's cohesion.
An Ambitious Economic Agenda
This year’s summit preparations are also notable for their ambitious economic goals, particularly the push for de-dollarization. Member countries are actively working to increase the use of local currencies in bilateral trade to reduce their reliance on the US dollar. A key project in focus is 'BRICS Pay,' a digital payment platform designed to create an independent cross-border transaction system linking the national payment infrastructures of member states, like India's UPI. While a common BRICS currency remains a distant idea, the move toward a parallel payment highway is a significant step aimed at enhancing financial sovereignty. This financial agenda, coupled with discussions on resilient supply chains and a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund, places economic strategy at the heart of the summit.
Navigating Geopolitical Crosscurrents
The preparations are unfolding against a backdrop of significant global tension. The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia create a complex diplomatic environment. The expansion has brought new members with conflicting regional interests, such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, which poses a challenge to the bloc's unity. For instance, while BRICS members have previously condemned attacks on Iran, internal divisions have emerged more recently. The summit is therefore not just a forum for economic cooperation but a high-stakes arena for managing deep-seated geopolitical differences. How host country India navigates these issues to find common ground is being watched closely around the world.
India's Leadership and Strategic Balancing Act
With India holding the chair for 2026, its role is central to the current focus. The summit, held under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” marks India's fourth time leading the group. New Delhi is tasked with steering the newly expanded bloc toward practical, consensus-driven outcomes. This requires a delicate balancing act. India aims to champion the interests of the Global South and push for a more inclusive world order without positioning BRICS as an overtly anti-Western alliance. As External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has noted, India's approach is “non-West, but not anti-West.” This nuanced position is crucial as India simultaneously strengthens its ties with Western partners, making its leadership of this diverse grouping a key test of its strategic autonomy.
