While there is no doubt that several important issues can be addressed at the BRICS+ Summit, the situation in West Asia and the strained relationship between BRICS members- the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iran are likely to cast a shadow over the meeting in September 2026.
While referring to the West Asia conflict at the BRICS+ Interior Ministers meeting held in New Delhi on July 24, Dr. Eskandar Momeni, Minister of Interior of the Islamic Republic of Iran stated that “the violation of Iran’s territorial integritykilling of innocents, destruction of hospitals, residential areas, power plants and schools was a clear violation of the United Nations Charter (UN) Charter,” and that members should take an unequivocal stance against the same.
According to the Iranian embassy in India, Dr. Eskandar Momeni: “…called on BRICS member states to adopt a clear and firm position in condemning aggression, violations of national sovereignty, attacks against civilians, and the destruction of critical infrastructure.” He emphasized that a united and resolute BRICS voice in defence of international law, respect for national sovereignty, and opposition to the use of force would send an important message to the international community and contribute to strengthening international peace, security, and stability.
Several BRICS+ meetings have been held in the run-up to the BRICS+ Summit, scheduled to be held in September 2026, and member states have agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas like health. It is not for the first time that Iran has called for BRICS+ members to condemn the aggression against Iran unequivocally. The UAE, which has repeatedly been attacked by Iran during the West Asia conflict, is also a member of BRICS. Both countries entered BRICS in the same year – 2024. Tensions between Saudi Arabia, which was invited to join BRICS in 2024, and Iran have also risen in recent weeks.
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India, which currently holds the Chairmanship of BRICS+, shares good relations not only with Iran and the UAE but also with the US and Israel and hence will need to do a fine balancing act. While it has criticised the war in West Asia, it has refrained from taking sides. India has expressed concern over the renewed escalation in West Asia and criticised attacks on commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. While making these points at a UN Security Council open debate on the Situation in the Middle East, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, emphasized that West Asia is of immense importance to India. He also underscored the point that several Indian nationals were impacted by the attacks on commercial vessels. Harish stated, “Several Indian citizens were injured, including some seriously; one Indian tragically lost his life, and one is missing, in these attacks. India has consistently condemned acts of violence targeting seafarers and disrupting free and safe navigation through international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz.”
While Iran has asked India in its role as Chair of BRICS+ to play a more proactive role in the West Asia conflict, India has highlighted the fact that, with BRICS+ members themselves being party to the conflict, building a consensus is difficult. India was referring to Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
During a May 2026 meeting of Foreign Ministers held in Delhi, the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticised Western hegemony and said: “Iran, therefore, calls upon BRICS member states and all responsible members of the international community to explicitly condemn violations of international law by the United States and Israel, including their illegal aggression against Iran”
The BRICS Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting ended without a joint statement; India issued a chair’s statement instead. The meeting also witnessed heated exchanges between Araghchi and the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar.
It is not just the crisis in West Asia; India is also likely to adopt a cautious approach towards the other item high on the agenda during the upcoming Summit – which is trade in local currencies. While India has supported the BRICS Pay arrangement, a potential alternative to the US-dominated SWIFT system, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has called for linking of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), New Delhi has firmly said that it does not seek to challenge the US Dollar and has rejected the idea of a BRICS Common currency.
In conclusion, as Chair of BRICS+, India clearly has an onerous responsibility. A joint statement on the situation in West Asia appears unlikely unless the ongoing US-Iran talks are successful and tensions between Gulf nations and Iran ease. Second, at a time when ties with the US are shaky, due to differences over economic issues, it remains to be seen how India and many other member countries of BRICS+ would approach initiatives pertaining to trade in local currencies. US President Donald Trump has issued several warnings to BRICS+ members that he will impose tariffs if they seek to challenge the US Dollar or create a new common BRICS currency.
While there is no doubt that several important issues can be addressed at the BRICS+ Summit, the situation in West Asia and the strained relationship between BRICS members- UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iran are likely to cast a shadow over the meeting in September 2026.
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