Is BRICS Coming of Age? Lessons from the New Delhi Summit

When India took over the BRICS presidency earlier this year, the spotlight shifted to New Delhi, where leaders from the enlarged grouping gathered in September. The summit was billed as a turning point – an opportunity for a club that now includes six new members to move beyond rhetoric and show some real heft on the world stage.

In the opening session, host Sharmada Venkatasubramanian asked International Affairs Editor Stanly Johny to unpack the “key takeaways”. First on the agenda was the New Delhi Declaration, a document that tried to thread together a wide‑ranging set of priorities: strengthening trade links, advancing cooperation in science and technology, and, perhaps more symbolically, projecting a united front on global governance reforms.

But the real test came when the discussion turned to West Asia – a region that has been a flashpoint for years. The summit’s language on Gaza was notably more emphatic than in previous meetings, condemning the humanitarian crisis and calling for an immediate ceasefire. This stance found surprising resonance among the members, even those traditionally wary of taking a public position on the Israel‑Palestine issue.

Iran, however, proved more divisive. While India offered to act as a bridge between Tehran and the United Arab Emirates, urging dialogue and confidence‑building measures, other members – especially Brazil and South Africa – were hesitant to endorse any language that could be read as supporting Tehran’s regional ambitions. The resulting wording was deliberately vague, reflecting a delicate balancing act.

Johny noted that the consensus on Palestine versus the stalemate on Iran highlighted an emerging pattern: BRICS can rally around clear humanitarian concerns, but when strategic rivalries surface, the group’s cohesion frays. Still, the very fact that the bloc managed to issue a joint statement on Gaza – something that eluded it in earlier summits – suggests a maturing diplomatic coordination.

Beyond geopolitics, the summit pushed forward concrete economic initiatives. The members signed agreements on digital payments, renewable‑energy collaboration, and a framework for a shared development bank that could complement the existing New Development Bank. While critics argue that the added members dilute the original BRICS ethos, supporters claim that the broadened coalition brings fresh markets and new avenues for South‑South trade.

So, is BRICS truly “coming of age”? The answer, according to the podcast’s analysis, is nuanced. The bloc has shown it can negotiate a common stance on at least one hot‑button issue and is laying the groundwork for deeper economic integration. Yet, its ability to manage divergent strategic interests – especially in volatile regions like West Asia – remains an open question. The next summit in Brazil will likely reveal whether the momentum built in Delhi can be sustained, or whether internal fissures will slow the group’s ascent.