BRICS summit opens with trade and geopolitical divisions in focus
Leaders and representatives are meeting in New Delhi as the expanded grouping weighs conflicts, tariffs, energy security and cooperation beyond Western financial channels.
The two-day BRICS summit has opened in New Delhi, hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian among those attending.
The meeting comes as the expanded grouping marks its 20th anniversary while facing divisions over conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, disrupted energy and shipping, and pressure from tariffs. Al Jazeera reported that trade, finance, technology, energy security, resilient supply chains and climate change are also central concerns for India as host.
Expansion of non-Western cross-border payment channels and cooperation on artificial intelligence are on the agenda. BRICS finance ministers and central bank governors have criticised tariffs and non-tariff measures they say distort trade and are inconsistent with World Trade Organization rules.
Modi held talks with Putin and Pezeshkian before the summit. Discussions with Pezeshkian included freedom of navigation and the safety of ship crews, while India and Russia agreed to deepen ties.
The grouping’s ability to reach a common position remains uncertain. Iran and the United Arab Emirates are both members but are on opposing sides of the war involving Iran, while BRICS foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement about the conflict at a meeting in May.
Representatives from other member states are attending, alongside the heads of the World Health Organization and WTO and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. The available material does not confirm whether the summit will produce a joint statement.
