India to hold BRICS summit amid disagreements over war in Iran
India will host a BRICS leaders' summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, where one of the main topics will be the war in Iran and disagreements among the group's members over the conflict. As Channel NewsAsia reports, Tehran and Abu Dhabi are on opposing sides of the confrontation, complicating efforts to agree on a joint declaration.
The summit will take place more than six months after the start of US and Israeli attacks on Iran, which has been a BRICS member since 2024. According to the outlet, the conflict has virtually paralysed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the key routes for global oil trade, while oil prices have exceeded $100 per barrel.
The United Arab Emirates, which is also a BRICS member, suspended all trade and financial operations with Iran in August following Iranian missile strikes on the country.
Searching for a formula for the declaration
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, representing the authority of the Russian Federation — an aggressor state — said that the contradictions between the UAE and Iran were negatively affecting preparations for a joint declaration. At the same time, he expressed hope that the participants would be able to find wording acceptable to both sides.
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In May, the foreign ministers of BRICS countries failed to adopt a joint statement after a meeting in New Delhi because of disagreements between Iran and the UAE. Michael Kugelman, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, noted that BRICS expansion increases the group's influence, but the differing positions of new members could reduce its effectiveness, since decisions are made by consensus.
In early September, participants in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President — of the aggressor state — Vladimir Putin, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, signed a declaration condemning the US and Israeli military campaign against Iran and Western sanctions.
Participants and bilateral meetings
Xi Jinping will visit India for the first time in seven years. Vladimir Putin, Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and UN Secretary-General António Guterres are also expected at the summit. The UAE will likely be represented by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Particular attention will be paid to a possible meeting between Modi and Xi Jinping, as well as planned talks between Modi and Putin. According to Peskov, Putin will hold a bilateral meeting with the Indian prime minister on Friday ahead of the summit; trade and economic cooperation will be among the topics.
