Iran war, energy security top agenda as BRICS leaders meet

NEW DELHI, Sept 12: Leaders and senior officials from the expanded BRICS grouping gathered in India on Saturday for a summit dominated by the widening global economic and geopolitical consequences of the US-Iran war, now in its seventh month.

The 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit comes as the conflict continues to fuel an energy crisis and intensify concerns over energy security, international trade and inflation, while the Russia-Ukraine war enters its fifth year.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is hosting the summit, expressed hope on the eve of the meeting that discussions would be “positive” and “meaningful.”

China said it looked forward to working with other BRICS members to promote dialogue and negotiations to resolve differences and jointly safeguard regional and global peace and stability.

The summit brings together the leaders and senior representatives of the expanded 11-member grouping, including founding members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, as well as Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The first day’s agenda includes a closed-door session for BRICS members under the theme “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism.”

Leaders are also scheduled to visit the Bharat Innovates Exhibition, participate in a tree-planting ceremony and attend a gala dinner hosted by Modi.

Among those attending are Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Brazil is represented by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, while Saudi Arabia is represented by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

The summit also brings together representatives of countries that have been welcomed as BRICS partner nations, including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Among the participating officials are Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Djamshid Kuchkarov.

Thailand is represented by Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Cuba by Prime Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Belarus by Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, Uruguay by Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin and Bahrain by Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.

On the second day, BRICS leaders are scheduled to attend an open session titled “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth.”

The leaders are also expected to issue a joint statement at the conclusion of the summit.

According to figures cited by BRICS, the expanded grouping now accounts for about 49.5% of the world’s population, 40% of global GDP and 26% of global trade, underscoring its growing weight in the global economy.

The summit is taking place at a time when the Iran war has placed energy markets and supply security at the center of international concerns, giving discussions on multilateral cooperation, trade and economic resilience added significance.

The previous BRICS summit was held in Rio de Janeiro in 2025.