Archive · 10 Sep 2026
India Hosts BRICS Summit as Iran War Tests Unity
India is hosting a meeting of BRICS countries in New Delhi.
The meeting will take place on September 12 and 13.
BRICS has grown to include countries with different views and interests.
Iran and the United Arab Emirates are on opposite sides of the war involving Iran.
This makes it difficult for BRICS members to agree on a statement about the conflict.
In May, BRICS foreign ministers could not release a joint statement because of disagreements between Iran and the UAE.
Leaders may try to find words that both countries can accept.
China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin are expected to attend.
India may also use the summit for talks with China and Russia.
The meeting will show whether the larger BRICS group can remain united.
India will host the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13.
The bloc faces divisions because Iran and the United Arab Emirates are on opposing sides of the conflict.
Leaders must agree on language about the Middle East crisis before issuing a joint declaration.
China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian are among the expected attendees.
Modi and Putin are scheduled to discuss trade and economic cooperation, while Modi and Xi may review efforts to stabilize relations.
- Who
- India is hosting BRICS leaders, including Narendra Modi, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Masoud Pezeshkian and other member-state leaders; United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also due to attend.
- What
- The BRICS Leaders’ Summit will address the bloc’s divisions over the Iran conflict and seek agreement on a joint declaration.
- When
- September 12-13; Vladimir Putin is expected to hold talks with Narendra Modi on Friday before the summit.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- Why
- The summit is intended to strengthen BRICS’s global profile and determine whether its expanded membership can agree on issues including the Middle East crisis, sanctions and economic cooperation.
Iran and Condemnation of the Campaign
United Arab Emirates and Divergent Positions
Language on the Iran conflict
Iran and Condemnation of the Campaign
Iran and several leaders signed a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation declaration condemning the United States-Israel military campaign against Iran and Western sanctions.
United Arab Emirates and Divergent Positions
The United Arab Emirates and Iran are described as being on opposing sides of the conflict, making mutually acceptable BRICS wording difficult.
Effect of BRICS expansion
Iran and Condemnation of the Campaign
Supporters say the expanded bloc can demonstrate that emerging countries oppose economically damaging policies such as Western sanctions.
United Arab Emirates and Divergent Positions
Critics say the addition of members with conflicting positions could make BRICS less effective because it operates by consensus.
Prospects for a joint declaration
Iran and Condemnation of the Campaign
The SCO’s earlier agreement on wording acceptable to countries with differing positions has raised hopes that BRICS can bridge its divide.
United Arab Emirates and Divergent Positions
The BRICS foreign ministers failed to issue a joint statement in May after disagreements between Iran and the UAE, and Kremlin officials said the dispute complicates drafting.
- Host country
- India
- Location
- New Delhi
- Summit dates
- September 12-13
- Main challenge
- Reconciling differences between Iran and the United Arab Emirates over the Iran conflict
- Expected attendees
- Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Masoud Pezeshkian, Cyril Ramaphosa, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Prabowo Subianto and Antonio Guterres
- BRICS expansion
- The grouping includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia
- Key bilateral talks
- Putin and Modi are scheduled to discuss trade and economic cooperation; Modi and Xi may discuss stabilizing relations and economic engagement