BRICS is trending because its summit in India is bringing together concerns about wars, global energy security and economic challenges, while Russia and Iran are criticising US dollar dominance. China’s Xi is heading to India for the gathering, which is being overshadowed by the US-Israel war on Iran and Russia’s war on Ukraine. Those conflicts, along with energy security, are expected to dominate the summit’s discussions.
The attention is also on the political messages surrounding the meeting. Ahead of the summit, Russian President Putin and Iranian President Pezeshkian criticised the dominance of the US dollar. Their comments put that issue alongside the wars and broader economic pressures shaping the agenda. Taken together, the gathering, Xi’s attendance and the statements from Russia and Iran explain the current focus on BRICS: the summit is a focal point for debate over international conflict, energy and economic power.