By Gabriel Ameh
India is working to bridge differences among members of the expanded BRICS grouping as leaders prepare to meet in New Delhi for the bloc’s 18th summit.
Indian officials say negotiations are ongoing over a joint declaration that is expected to reflect areas of common ground among the 11-member grouping, despite differences over regional and geopolitical issues.
Speaking at a dinner for journalists and content creators in New Delhi ahead of the summit, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson and additional secretary at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said India considers all BRICS members partners.
“India is friends with all BRICS member countries. As friends, it is our intention to bring all our partners together,” Jaiswal said.
Asked whether New Delhi had taken a specific initiative to resolve disagreements within the bloc, Jaiswal pointed to negotiations over the summit’s joint declaration.
“You will have to wait for the joint statement,” he said. “The joint statement is being negotiated and there you will see how India brings everybody together.”
Jaiswal said discussions were being held collectively with BRICS members but declined to identify countries involved in particular disagreements.
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit on September 12–13, 2026, at a time when the grouping is navigating a more complicated diplomatic environment following its expansion to 11 members.
During its 2026 chairmanship, India has placed emphasis on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability, while also promoting development priorities and a stronger voice for the Global South.
The economic agenda includes the proposed BRICS Economic Partnership 2030, alongside efforts to expand trade in services, strengthen resilient supply chains and improve financing opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.
However, the bloc’s expansion has also brought together countries with different strategic interests, making consensus on politically sensitive issues more difficult.
One area of tension has involved Iran and the United Arab Emirates, particularly over regional security and sovereignty. At the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi in May, the UAE rejected Iranian allegations and reaffirmed its sovereignty and right to protect its national security.
India and China also remain strategic competitors despite efforts to stabilise bilateral relations following the 2020 border clashes. Differences involving security, technology and market access continue to affect the broader relationship.
Another longstanding dispute within the expanded grouping involves Egypt and Ethiopia, particularly over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the use of Nile waters.
The issue received renewed attention following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Egypt on September 1–2. In a joint communiqué issued during the visit, China recognised Egypt’s “legitimate right” to protect its water security, food security and development interests.
China and Egypt also called on Nile Basin states to comply with international law and obligations aimed at preventing harm.
Although the statement did not explicitly endorse Egypt’s position against Ethiopia, the reference to Nile-related concerns adds another layer to the diplomatic dynamics within BRICS, where China, Egypt and Ethiopia are all members.
Economic priorities are another area where differences may emerge, particularly over the future direction of the bloc’s financial system.
Russia and China have advocated greater use of national currencies and alternatives to the dominance of the US dollar in international trade, while other members have approached the issue with varying degrees of caution.
For India, the challenge is to keep the expanded BRICS focused on areas where members can cooperate, particularly trade, development, finance, technology, sustainability and Global South priorities.
The outcome of negotiations over the joint declaration could therefore provide an important indication of how effectively the expanded bloc can manage its internal differences while maintaining a common agenda.
