Leaders of the Brics bloc convened in New Delhi over the weekend to issue a rare unified statement condemning protectionism, economic sanctions, and escalating tensions in the Gulf, signaling growing opposition to policies associated with US President Donald Trump. The group, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and five partner nations, agreed on a 45-page declaration underscoring calls for peace and international cooperation.
The summit saw prominent participation from Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who jointly emphasized the importance of multilateralism amid what they described as increasing global instability. The leaders expressed frustration with unilateral economic measures, including tariffs and sanctions, which they attributed to the Trump administration’s approach to foreign policy and trade.
Observers noted the contrast between the visible unity among Brics leaders and the challenges facing the West, where US-Europe relations have been strained by trade disputes and domestic political issues. Xi Jinping highlighted a forthcoming “golden decade” for Brics, with China expected to assume the group’s chairmanship next year, reflecting Beijing’s aim to use the bloc as a platform to recalibrate global power dynamics and promote technological leadership, particularly in artificial intelligence.
The summit also provided a setting for discussions on regional security concerns, including the conflict in the Gulf, ahead of an anticipated meeting between Xi and Trump later this month. Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, representing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, emphasized the importance of the Brics gathering at a time when multilateralism faces significant challenges worldwide.
Russia, represented by Putin at his first Brics summit outside Russian soil since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, called for a new global order favoring nations in the south and east. Putin criticized efforts by some countries to contain emerging powers, projecting Russia as a reliable supplier of energy and raw materials to nations anxious about disruptions caused by the US-led conflict in the Gulf.
While the final declaration included broad language designed to accommodate the diverse interests of member states, the summit avoided addressing underlying tensions, such as whether to deepen cooperation on defense and security—an area favored by China and Russia but more cautiously approached by India. Modi urged reform of international institutions like the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund, though deep disagreements remain over the specifics of such changes.
Modi also prioritized human development and practical outcomes, advocating for the Global South to move from “rulers to rule-shapers,” a message that resonated with partner nations including Ethiopia. Former Indian foreign secretary Nirupama Rao described the unanimous declaration as a diplomatic success, noting it bridged differences between Brics countries such as Iran and the United Arab Emirates. The statement called for increased diplomacy and restraint concerning the Gulf conflict.
Notably, Iranian President Massoud Rezaei Behzadi attended the summit and held bilateral talks with Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and other leaders on the sidelines, signaling a willingness among regional actors to engage within the Brics framework. Experts like Chilamkur Raja Mohan of the Institute of South Asian Studies in Singapore emphasized that the summit’s emphasis was on reforming existing global institutions rather than seeking their replacement.