The BRICS summit concluded on September 13 in New Delhi, showcasing both achievements and limitations.
The unanimous joint statement adopted by the leaders of BRICS member countries on September 12 is considered the summit's most significant success. The leaders expressed "deep concern" over escalating tensions in the Middle East and urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid actions that could worsen the situation.
Peng Nian, head of the Asia Research Center in Hong Kong, noted that despite differences between Iran and the United Arab Emirates regarding the war in Iran, BRICS successfully issued a joint statement with support from both Middle Eastern members. He interpreted this as a sign of strengthened internal cohesion within BRICS and suggested that the group might take a more proactive stance on regional issues in the future, while also predicting increased criticism from the West.
Lan Qingxin, a professor at the BRICS Research Center of the University of International Business and Economics, stated that the summit positioned BRICS as a platform to enhance the resilience of the Global South's development. He emphasized that due to varying stages of development and economic structures among member countries, they would seek common interests through practical cooperation in trade, investment, finance, infrastructure, and technology.
Ran Jijun, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, remarked that BRICS has already established a multi-layered cooperation structure, including meetings of foreign ministers, high-level representatives for security, and economic and trade ministers, and that cooperation would continue to strengthen.
However, there are concerns that differing national interests may limit BRICS's potential to evolve into a new political and economic bloc to rival the G7. Zhu Feng, a professor at Nanjing University, pointed out that India's dissatisfaction with China remains unresolved, and geopolitical competition among major members is evident. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated during the summit that "the weaponization of technology and critical minerals could hinder our collective development," a comment interpreted as a reference to China's export controls on rare earths.
Liu Zongyi, a senior researcher at the Shanghai International Studies Institute, highlighted that geopolitical trust remains a significant weakness, particularly the trust issues between China and India, which he identified as the biggest problem within BRICS.
Luominghui, an associate professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, expressed skepticism about Middle Eastern countries viewing BRICS as an alternative to the Western security framework, suggesting that these nations seek market access, trade expansion, economic opportunities, and diplomatic space from BRICS.
Former Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao predicted that China, which will hold the BRICS presidency next year, will aim to strengthen political cooperation within the group, but India will be cautious about BRICS transforming into a China-led geopolitical bloc. Chatham House senior researcher Chithig Vazhappilly noted that while Brazil and India view BRICS as an economically focused cooperative entity, China and Russia perceive it as having a stronger geopolitical character, indicating differing interpretations of BRICS's direction among member countries.
BRICS, established in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, expanded to include South Africa in 2011. In 2024-2025, Iran, the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia are set to join, bringing the total membership to ten countries.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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