India Works to Secure BRICS Consensus Amid Iran-UAE Tensions Ahead of September Summit

New Delhi is stepping up diplomatic efforts to build consensus among BRICS members ahead of the summit scheduled for September 12-13. The grouping faces internal challenges due to the continuing West Asia conflict and divergent positions held by Iran and the UAE, according to a senior official.

The diplomatic challenge is highlighted by previous ministerial meetings held earlier this year. Both the Foreign Ministers' meeting and the Trade Ministers' meeting failed to produce joint communiques due to disagreements linked to the West Asia conflict. Instead, outcome documents and Chair's statements were issued.

India, as the current Chair, is relying heavily on the Sherpa channel to narrow differences. Officials stated that representatives are in regular touch with counterparts to draft an acceptable summit declaration. BRICS operates on a consensus-based framework, requiring dialogue and engagement across all member states.

Geopolitical tensions escalated after the UAE announced an indefinite trade embargo on Iran on August 19, following accusations that Iranian forces fired ballistic missiles at its territory. Iran denied the allegations, characterizing the incident as a false flag operation by Israel and the United States.

The expansion of BRICS to 11 members over the past two years—including the addition of Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia—has introduced diverse national positions into the multilateral bloc. Ahead of the September meeting, India's objective is to find acceptable formulations that prevent geopolitical disagreements from derailing the broader agenda.

Heads of State from most BRICS countries are expected to attend the summit, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The UAE may be represented by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, while other nations will send Heads of State or senior officials.

The upcoming summit aims to strengthen cooperation on trade, investment, finance, technology, and development, alongside pushing for a greater voice for the Global South. Discussions will also cover cross-border payments, economic cooperation, and multilateral institutional reform.

"Multilateral frameworks like BRICS rely heavily on consensus-building, which becomes increasingly complex as economic blocs expand to include diverse geopolitical interests. For businesses and investors monitoring global markets, diplomatic friction and trade embargoes between key member states highlight the volatility in cross-border trade corridors. India's efforts to utilize the Sherpa channel demonstrate the critical role of structured dialogue in maintaining economic stability and multilateral cooperation during times of geopolitical strain." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes