India is preparing to host the 18th BRICS summit in Delhi this weekend, with organizers adopting a thematic slogan designed to maintain unity among an expanded membership. The chosen phrase, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” was crafted to align with the original BRICS acronym while offering a neutral platform for newer members, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.
Mihaela Papa, director of the BRICS Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, described the approach as an elegant reinterpretation that shifts the acronym’s meaning from a group of nations to a shared mission. However, Sushant Singh, a lecturer in South Asian Studies at Yale University, argued that the vague wording reflects New Delhi’s desire to keep the proceedings low-key and neutral.
Singh noted that while India seeks to avoid antagonizing Russia or China, domestic sentiment is increasingly oriented toward the United States, suggesting a lack of enthusiasm for strengthening the BRICS alliance. India’s elevated status as a rising geopolitical power has, however, lent greater significance to this year’s gathering compared to the previous summit in Rio de Janeiro, where six of the eleven heads of state were absent.
At the 2025 Rio summit, major figures such as Chinese President Xi Jinping did not attend, although Russian President Vladimir Putin was present. For the upcoming Delhi meeting, Putin is expected to participate, while Xi Jinping is widely anticipated despite the lack of formal confirmation from Beijing. Papa emphasized that the presence of top Chinese leadership is critical to the summit’s impact.
The gathering also presents an opportunity to observe dynamics between regional rivals. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will attend, while the UAE is expected to send representatives, alongside Saudi Arabia, another Iranian adversary whose membership status remains somewhat ambiguous in official documents. Successfully facilitating cooperation between these historical foes could serve as a strong indicator of BRICS’ potential as a stabilizing force.
For India, the summit is significant not only for multilateral discussions but also for bilateral engagements. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet with Putin on Friday, and the event offers a chance for face-to-face dialogue with Xi Jinping amid ongoing strains in China-India relations. Despite these diplomatic efforts, Singh cautioned that substantive outcomes are unlikely.
Modi has frequently framed BRICS as a vital forum for the Global South to present a unified front, advocating for a people-centric approach. Nevertheless, Singh asserted that BRICS is not a primary priority for India, which has grown uncomfortable with the group’s perceived anti-Western trajectory. Under Indian leadership, the bloc is expected to avoid confrontational stances, focusing instead on practical trade benefits without criticizing Western nations.
Ironically, India’s non-aligned position may help bridge divides within the group. Papa suggested that India’s extensive relationships across competing geopolitical camps allow it to steer BRICS toward practical cooperation and global governance reform rather than overt bloc politics.
As the organization approaches its 18th anniversary, questions regarding its coherence persist. While BRICS members collectively represent nearly half the world’s population and approximately 40% of global GDP, the expansion from five to eleven members has complicated consensus-building. The bloc now includes more autocracies than democracies, and many members harbor tense bilateral relationships.
Last year’s joint declaration called for reforms to global governance institutions, including greater representation in the IMF and World Bank, while condemning tariffs and international polarization. Papa observed that ideologically, the group remains focused on functional cooperation while attempting to sidestep geopolitical friction.
Looking ahead, Papa anticipates progress in three key areas: trade, monetary cooperation, and agriculture. Discussions are expected to center on enhancing intra-BRICS trade, developing alternative financial architectures for currency exchange, and addressing food security. While reforming global governance will remain a central theme, success may depend on focusing on institutions where consensus is stronger, such as the World Trade Organization, where India’s ambitions align with those of other members.
Despite these possibilities, many observers, including Singh, predict that the group will continue to underwhelm. Challenges ranging from China’s expanding global influence to the tariff policies of the Trump administration have further constrained the bloc’s objectives. With the current state of declining multilateralism and internal contradictions, Singh concluded that it is highly unlikely BRICS will achieve any major breakthroughs.
Xi attending is the real story here. Without Chinese leadership showing up, this whole expanded bloc loses its strategic weight entirely.
India balancing between Russia and China while drifting toward the US? That’s a tightrope Modi has to walk carefully.
Seems optimistic about UAE and Iran cooperating. They barely tolerate each other; don’t expect miracles from a summit slogan.
Love the acronym pivot. Turning BRICS into a mission statement is clever diplomatic theater to keep everyone on board.