BRICS Members Show Divergent Interests Ahead of New Delhi Summit

The upcoming BRICS summit in New Delhi highlights growing competition between India and China over the bloc’s strategic direction. Member states continue to grapple with internal friction, particularly concerning their geopolitical interests related to the United States and ongoing regional conflicts.

India is pursuing a dual foreign policy, maintaining a strategic partnership with the United States while strengthening economic ties with Russia. Bilateral trade with Moscow is projected to reach $100 billion by 2030, a significant increase from $70 billion in 2025. This expansion is occurring despite potential exposure to U.S. sanctions, contrasting with Beijing’s more confrontational approach toward Washington.

Iran-UAE Tensions Strain Bloc Unity

Tensions between Iran and the United Arab Emirates

Economic and security divisions further complicate the cohesion of the BRICS bloc. Tensions between Iran and the United Arab Emirates have resulted in a suspension of bilateral trade, underscoring the group's inability to achieve a consensus on regional security during recent ministerial meetings.

China aims to utilize the summit to address its substantial trade deficit with India and manage long-standing border disputes. However, the absence of a unified policy framework indicates that the bloc remains constrained by the competing national agendas of its two largest economies.

Defining a Counterweight to Washington

BRICS was established in 2009 as a direct response to the U.S. dollar's dominance in international trade and Washington's leverage over global institutions. Internal dissent, particularly between India and China, has historically hindered the bloc's ability to make significant progress.

The summit agenda includes discussions on how the bloc can act as a counterweight to Washington's influence. However, achieving high levels of collaboration for a cohesive message will be challenging given the existing internal disunity.