Rule-Shapers or Divided Rivals? Inside the Fragile Consensus at the 18th BRICS Summit
Devangi Chandok, Jadetimes Staff
This weekend in New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed world leaders to a massive circular conference table for the 18th BRICS Summit. Against the backdrop of escalating conflict in the Middle East and sweeping international economic friction, Modi urged the gathering to transform the grouping into active global rule-shapers rather than passive rule-takers. Yet, the gathering underscored a persistent paradox: BRICS is increasingly essential as a diplomatic forum, but its deep internal divisions severely limit its ability to act as a unified global power.
Diplomatic Breakthroughs Among Rivals
Hosting the event was a major diplomatic victory for India, as bringing together non-aligned powers alongside bitter geopolitical rivals is no easy feat. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met face-to-face with Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, marking their highest-level bilateral dialogue since recent Middle East hostilities destabilized regional trade. The summit offered Tehran a vital platform to seek deeper economic ties with members like India, Ethiopia, and Malaysia amid severe U.S. sanctions and naval blockades. Simultaneously, Chinese President Xi Jinping made his first visit to India in seven years. Following deadly 2020 border clashes, the meeting signaled a cautious thaw. While Xi skipped the official gala dinner and kept interactions to a formal handshake rather than a warm embrace, both sides agreed to address existing trade barriers and restore essential transport links across their borders.
The Carefully Crafted Joint Declaration
The summit successfully produced a consensus document, the New Delhi Declaration, but achieving agreement required carefully scrubbing controversial specifics. On the war in the Middle East, the text urges maximum restraint, condemns attacks on civilian infrastructure, and backs a two-state solution while assigning no explicit blame to any side. Remarkably, the declaration completely omits any mention of the war in Ukraine, departing from previous statements to keep Moscow aligned. On economic policy, the text condemns unilateral sanctions and indiscriminate rising tariffs, yet it carefully avoids naming the United States directly to prevent drawing anger from President Donald Trump, who has previously labeled BRICS monetary efforts as inherently anti-American.
Strategic Autonomy Versus an Anti-Western Agenda
This diplomatic tightrope highlights the fundamental divide running through the coalition. Nations like Russia, China, and Iran view the group as an explicit vehicle to challenge and dilute Western geopolitical hegemony. Conversely, India, South Africa, and the UAE strongly resist turning the bloc into an overtly anti-Western alliance. Former Indian diplomat Anil Trigunayat emphasized that India’s primary goal is preserving strategic autonomy in an era of active conflict while fostering pragmatic economic collaboration, rather than joining an ideological cold war.
The Vision of a Multipolar Future
Ultimately, the Delhi gathering proved that BRICS serves a vital purpose by offering a flexible diplomatic space for rivals to negotiate outside traditional Western-dominated institutions. While the summit highlighted the group's undeniable capacity to shape international dialogue, the true test lies in whether these non-aligned partners can move beyond compromise declarations and build a lasting framework for global governance.
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