Context:
India, as BRICS Chair (2026), faces difficulties in forging consensus among member countries due to their direct or indirect involvement in the ongoing West Asia conflict.
Key Highlights:
- Diplomatic Developments
- Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted challenges in achieving unified BRICS position.
- Discussions ongoing through the Sherpa channel (last meeting: March 12, 2026).
- Iran requested India to issue a joint BRICS statement condemning U.S.–Israel strikes.
- Member-Level Complications
- Inclusion of Saudi Arabia and UAE complicates consensus:
- Both host U.S. military bases.
- Targeted by Iranian missile strikes.
- Divergent geopolitical alignments within BRICS.
- India’s Diplomatic Engagement
- PM Modi engaged with leaders of:
- Saudi Arabia
- UAE
- Iran
- EAM S. Jaishankar held multiple discussions with Iran.
- Data & Global Significance
- BRICS represents:
- ~49.5% of global population
- ~40% of global GDP
- ~26% of global trade
Relevant Prelims Points:
- BRICS Members:
- Founding: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa
- Expanded grouping includes countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran.
- Sherpa Channel:
- Diplomatic mechanism where leaders’ representatives prepare summit agendas.
- Consensus:
- Decision-making based on mutual agreement (no formal voting).
Relevant Mains Points:
- Highlights limitations of multilateral groupings with diverse geopolitical interests.
- India’s challenge:
- Balancing strategic autonomy with leadership role.
- Reflects fragmentation in global governance systems.
- Importance of BRICS in:
- Global South representation
- Alternative economic and political platforms.
- Way Forward
- Promote issue-based cooperation rather than full consensus.
- Strengthen dialogue mechanisms within BRICS.
- Leverage India’s position to act as a neutral mediator.
UPSC Relevance:
- GS II: International Relations (Multilateralism, Global Governance)