The BRICS summit opens in New Delhi on Saturday, bringing together leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping for two days of talks. The BRICS summit will focus on global and regional issues alongside core economic priorities.
According to officials, the agenda features exchanges on international developments with an emphasis on trade and cooperation among member states.
BRICS summit agenda and geopolitical focus
Diplomats said the situation in the Middle East is expected to figure prominently, including tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for shipments of oil and fertilizers.
BRICS members, which position the bloc as a counterweight to Western influence, aim to deepen alignment on geopolitical questions.
The group also intends to strengthen coordination on trade, technology development, energy security, and climate policy, participants said.
BRICS originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia are also members.
The focus on potential disruptions to global energy flows parallels other concerns about oil markets, as seen in forecasts that prices could spike due to regional instability, including risks around the Strait of Hormuz outlined in a recent Goldman Sachs oil forecast.