Delhi: In preparation for hosting the 18th BRICS summit this weekend, India has crafted a slogan aimed at preserving the group's brand while accommodating its new members. "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability" is designed to match the acronym for the original five members-Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa-while representing goals that new members like Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates can support.
According to Deutsche Welle, Mihaela Papa, director of the BRICS Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, described the slogan as an elegant way to reinterpret BRICS, transforming it from merely representing country names to symbolizing a joint mission. Sushant Singh, a lecturer in South Asian Studies at Yale University, suggested the vague slogan reflects India's intent to maintain BRICS as neutral and low-key, avoiding offense to Russia or China while acknowledging India's increasing focus on the United States. Singh asserted that India does not prioritize building up BRICS.
India's role at this year's summit holds particular significance as the nation emerges as a rising global geopolitical power, adding weight to the gathering compared to last year's summit in Brazil. The previous summit saw six of the bloc's 11 heads of state absent, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This year, Putin is expected to attend, while Xi's participation is anticipated but not yet confirmed by Beijing.
Papa emphasized the importance of China's top leadership's participation, considering it crucial for demonstrating BRICS as a "stabilizing force." The presence of regional rivals like Iran and the UAE working together would also signify the bloc's strength. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is confirmed to attend, while UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is expected to send representatives. The summit provides a platform for bilateral meetings, notably between Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as a potential face-to-face meeting between Xi and Modi amid strained China-India relations.
However, Singh warned that substantial outcomes from the weekend are unlikely, suggesting that BRICS is not a priority for India. Modi has emphasized BRICS as a forum for the Global South to present a united front on various issues, promoting a "people-centric approach" and the spirit of "humanity first." Singh noted India's discomfort with the group's perceived anti-Western turn, stressing India's focus on defense ties with the US and trade with the West. He described India's vision for BRICS as one of improving trade ties without opposing the West.
India's non-aligned status may ironically enable it to maintain the bloc's alignment. Papa highlighted India's significant geopolitical weight and relationships across competing camps, positioning it as an important bridge-builder likely to keep BRICS focused on practical cooperation and global governance reform rather than overt bloc politics.
As BRICS approaches its 18th birthday, the bloc continues to grapple with coherence and purpose. Despite representing nearly half the world's population and around 40% of its GDP, last year's joint declaration called for global governance reforms but struggled to reconcile internal contradictions. Papa anticipates progress in trade, monetary cooperation, and agriculture, focusing on improving trade between members, developing alternative financial architectures, and addressing food security issues.
While some hope for meaningful progress, Singh remains skeptical, citing challenges like China's global dominance and the Trump administration's tariff policies. He concluded that BRICS is unlikely to achieve anything major given the current global landscape and the bloc's internal contradictions.