New Delhi: BRICS countries are set to issue a joint statement following intensive diplomatic discussions aimed at bridging differences among the group’s diverse members. India, which is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, played a key role in bringing the participating countries toward a common position.
The agreement is being viewed as a significant diplomatic achievement for India’s BRICS presidency, particularly because member states have held differing positions on several geopolitical issues. Recent negotiations focused heavily on finding acceptable language on the situation in West Asia, where some BRICS members have taken contrasting positions.
India works to bridge differences
India’s approach during the negotiations has focused on finding common ground rather than forcing members to adopt positions that could prove difficult for individual countries to accept.
Diplomatic discussions reportedly sought language centred on broader principles, including respect for the UN Charter, territorial integrity, protection of civilians and opposition to unprovoked aggression, while avoiding formulations that would explicitly single out individual countries.
The consensus is particularly significant given the expanded composition of BRICS. The grouping now brings together countries with different strategic interests and foreign-policy priorities, making agreement on sensitive international issues more challenging.
What is BRICS focusing on?
The BRICS grouping has increasingly sought to strengthen cooperation among emerging and developing economies while advocating greater representation for the Global South in international institutions.
Economic cooperation remains an important part of the agenda, including trade, investment, financial cooperation, energy and efforts to strengthen the use of national currencies in international transactions. Discussions at the New Delhi summit are also expected to address global governance reforms and the role of developing countries in international decision-making.
India’s BRICS presidency
India’s 2026 BRICS presidency is being conducted under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The summit in New Delhi is taking place on September 12–13, with discussions covering economic cooperation, institutional reforms and wider issues affecting the Global South.
The ability to bring members with divergent positions together around a joint statement could further strengthen India’s diplomatic profile within the grouping.
A test of BRICS unity
The consensus also highlights the effort required to maintain unity within an increasingly diverse BRICS. Differences over geopolitical conflicts and global governance have made it difficult for the group to adopt common positions on every issue.
However, reaching agreement demonstrates that BRICS members can still identify areas of common interest despite their differences. The joint statement is therefore expected to underline cooperation and multilateral dialogue while reflecting the group’s broader effort to increase the influence of emerging economies in global affairs.
