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BRICS Expand and Align

What's happened

The BRICS bloc has expanded to include new members and partners, and its leaders are pursuing deeper practical cooperation across politics, economy, and security. Xi and Modi are signaling a push for a multipolar world, with open-source AI, special zones, and service-trade forums on the agenda. The summit in New Delhi is framed as a step toward a broader Global South alliance.

What's behind the headline?

Analysis

  • The expansion strengthens BRICS as a counterweight to Western-dominated institutions, signaling a clearer Global South agenda.
  • Xi Jinping has proposed an AI Open Source Zone and a Special Economic Zone partnership, underscoring a push to integrate technology and trade policy across members.
  • Modi is presenting India as a linchpin for regional and global partnerships, aiming to translate political alignment into concrete investment and manufacturing links.
  • The focus on service trade, green industrialisation, and critical minerals indicates a strategic tilt toward economic diversification and resilience.

Forecasts:

  • Expect more formalized cooperation frameworks and joint ventures, especially in AI, finance, and infrastructure.
  • Tensions could persist where member interests diverge, particularly around technology restrictions and market access.
  • The expansion will likely shape buyer-supplier dynamics in energy and digital sectors for years to come.

How we got here

The BRICS framework has grown beyond its original five members, adding Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the UAE after the Johannesburg expansion in 2023. Leaders emphasize mutual development, expanded trade, and coordinated efforts across energy, infrastructure, digital economy, and education. The current Delhi summit reflects ongoing efforts to institutionalize collaboration, stabilize supply chains, and promote a multipolar global order.

Our analysis

The All Africa piece highlights Ramaphosa’s emphasis on BRICS as a platform for inclusive growth and development finance via the BRICS Bank and currency reserves. Independent reports outline Xi and Modi’s push for greater practical cooperation, AI collaboration, and multipolar world discourse, noting the broader membership and global reach. Both sources detail trade links with India and South Africa and current investment flows that underpin the bloc’s strategy.

Go deeper

  • What concrete trade deals or investments are already being planned or announced at this summit?
  • How might BRICS members reconcile differing political systems with a shared economic agenda?
  • What are the potential risks to traditional Western-led markets from BRICS expansion?

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