Divided BRICS at New Delhi Summit: Why It Won’t Threaten US Power

At the Bharat Mandapam in New&nbspDelhi, the 18th BRICS summit opens under a cloud of discord, proving that a Divided BRICS cannot mount a credible challenge to Washington.

Divided BRICS and US Hegemony

India, the host, walks a tightrope, seeking to showcase leadership without provoking the United States, its long‑standing strategic partner. Prime Minister Narendra Modi signals cooperation with Washington even as he entertains Chinese overtures.

“We are not here to confront, but to cooperate,” Modi told reporters, eyes flicking toward the U.S. delegation.

China’s President Xi Jinping arrives intent on branding Beijing as a stable, non‑dollar alternative, pushing the renminbi into trade talks while sidestepping India’s resistance to digital‑currency linkage. The Reuters feed notes that Beijing’s push could add ↑ 2% to RMB‑denominated contracts this year. Russia, still locked in a stalemated war in Ukraine, lobbies for diplomatic cover and sanctions relief; its envoy repeatedly cites the need for “global balance.” Brazil eyes fresh export routes, wary that a pandemic-induced slowdown could dent its commodity earnings. New entrants – Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – sit on the sidelines, their presence a reminder that the bloc now includes former U.S. allies whose economies still lean on dollar trade. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will send a lower‑ranking official, a subtle signal that Riyadh prefers hedging over outright confrontation. The summit’s final communiqué will likely echo the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s vague critique of Washington, yet the United Arab Emirates’ participation may temper any overt anti‑American language. In short, the internal rivalry between China and India, the divergent energy market interests of Russia and Brazil versus China and India, and the cautious stance of newer members keep the coalition from coalescing into a true counterweight. As Bloomberg observes, the bloc’s collective GDP growth of ↓ 0.4% this quarter underscores its limited leverage. The message is clear: a fragmented BRICS will remain a peripheral player while the United States retains its global primacy.