BRICS summit faces test of unity as Iran war strains bloc

The upcoming BRICS Leaders' Summit in New Delhi from September 12 to 13, 2026, faces a significant challenge in maintaining unity due to the ongoing Iran war. The conflict has strained relations between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, who are on opposing sides, making consensus on a joint declaration difficult. The summit comes amid sharp differences between the two nations, with the UAE suspending trade and financial transactions with Iran following Iranian missile attacks in August.

The disruption has contributed to a near shutdown of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing crude oil prices above $100 per barrel and raising concerns over energy security and economic consequences. Despite these divisions, there are indications that a compromise could still be reached, with Russia's presidential spokesman expressing hope that leaders will find acceptable language for both sides.

The New Delhi summit will also see the participation of influential world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. The summit is expected to focus on strengthening economic cooperation, the role of BRICS in global governance, and possible bilateral discussions.

Brief written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.