BRICS Leaders Gather in Delhi Amid Regional Conflict and Global Power Shifts

Leaders from BRICS nations, including China's Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin, and Iran's Masoud Pezeshkian, are meeting in Delhi for a summit that coincides with heightened tensions in the Middle East and shifting diplomatic ties with the United States. The summit occurs as Iran and the United States engage in a military confrontation involving strikes on Iranian positions and Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which has pushed Brent crude prices to around 97 dollars a barrel. While the forum seeks to expand cooperation in agriculture, health, and digitalization, internal divisions persist. A center leaning report notes a sharp divide between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, as Tehran seeks condemnation of American and Israeli actions while Abu Dhabi emphasizes sovereignty and freedom of navigation.

Perspectives on the summit's efficacy vary by political framing. A center leaning report frames the event as being overshadowed by potential direct diplomacy between President Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin, suggesting that leader driven deals between the US, China, and Russia could weaken the coherence of BRICS. In contrast, a center left leaning report frames the summit as a critical venue for peace, arguing that BRICS members and partners have been the only entities capable of brokering ceasefires in the current conflict. This perspective highlights China's role as a mediator with commercial interests on both sides of the war, noting that Beijing buys the majority of Iranian crude while also maintaining significant imports from Gulf states.

Other key diplomatic focuses include the relationship between India and China. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet with Xi Jinping for the first time since 2019 to discuss economic relations and the boundary situation. Meanwhile, the broader geopolitical landscape remains volatile. Russia continues to face a costly war that has not produced a decisive victory, while China seeks to position itself as both a leader of the Global South and a co equal manager of the international order.