Trump's Policies Cast a Shadow Over Expanded BRICS Summit in Delhi

As leaders from the expanded BRICS nations gather in Delhi for their summit, the pervasive influence of US President Donald Trump’s policies is set to be a central, albeit unspoken, topic. While the United States is not part of the BRICS bloc, comprising India, China, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, the UAE, Iran, and invited member Saudi Arabia, the global economic and geopolitical instability fueled by Trump’s actions, including trade tariffs and actions impacting energy markets, cannot be ignored.

It is unlikely, however, that the summit will produce a strong, unified statement directly challenging Washington. The BRICS group itself is marked by diverse interests, making a cohesive response to US foreign policy a significant challenge. India, reportedly nearing a trade agreement with the US, will likely avoid any language that could antagonize the White House.

Similarly, China may be hesitant to appear as if it’s using the BRICS platform to target the US directly. The United Arab Emirates, caught in the crossfire of regional tensions involving Iran and hosting US military facilities, is also unlikely to support measures that could benefit Tehran.

Michael Kugelman, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, suggests that any criticism of US policies within the summit’s declarations will likely be “vague and indirect.” This reflects the sharply divergent geopolitical realities and national interests within the now larger BRICS grouping. While the expansion signifies the group’s growing significance, it simultaneously complicates the path towards consensus on contentious global issues. The leaders face the delicate task of navigating their individual relationships with the US while participating in a forum that offers potential collective leverage, though achieving that leverage appears more challenging than ever.