By Gloria Ikibah
India is working to bridge differences among members of the expanded BRICS bloc as negotiations continue on a joint declaration ahead of the group’s leaders’ summit in New Delhi.
Additional Secretary and spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, disclosed this at a dinner organised for journalists and content creators in New Delhi ahead of the summit. 
Jaiswal said India regarded all BRICS members as partners and was committed to bringing them together despite differences within the grouping.
“India is friends with all BRICS member countries. As friends, it is our intention to bring all our partners together,” Jaiswal said.
Asked whether India had initiated any specific measure to narrow the divisions among members, the Indian official pointed to the ongoing negotiations on the summit’s joint declaration.
“You will have to wait for the joint statement.
The joint statement is being negotiated and there you will see how India brings everybody together,” he said.
Jaiswal said negotiations were being conducted collectively with all BRICS members but declined to disclose the countries involved in specific disagreements.
India is scheduled to host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit on September 12 and 13, 2026, as the bloc adjusts to a more complex diplomatic environment following its expansion to 11 members.
Under its 2026 chairmanship, India has focused on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability, while seeking to advance development priorities and strengthen the voice of the Global South.
The country’s economic agenda for the bloc includes the proposed BRICS Economic Partnership 2030, measures to expand trade in services, strengthen resilient supply chains and improve access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises.
However, the expansion of BRICS has also brought together countries with divergent geopolitical and economic interests, making consensus on politically sensitive matters more difficult.
One of the most visible areas of disagreement has been between Iran and the United Arab Emirates. During the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi in May, the UAE rejected Iranian allegations and defended its sovereignty and right to protect its national security.
The development highlighted the difficulty of reaching common positions within a grouping whose members have competing regional interests.
Differences also remain between India and China. Although both countries have taken steps to stabilise relations following the 2020 border clashes, they remain strategic rivals, with disagreements over security, technology and market access continuing to affect bilateral cooperation.
Another major area of tension involves Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the use of Nile waters.
The dispute received renewed attention following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Egypt from September 1 to 2.
In a joint communiqué issued during the visit, China recognised Egypt’s “legitimate right” to protect its water security, food security and development interests.
The two countries also called on Nile Basin states to comply with international law, including obligations relating to the prevention of harm.
Although the communiqué stopped short of explicitly endorsing Egypt’s position against Ethiopia, the reference to Nile-related concerns in a high-level China-Egypt statement adds another layer to the discussions within BRICS, where China, Egypt and Ethiopia are all members.
Economic differences are also expected to feature in discussions on the future direction of the bloc.
Russia and China have supported greater use of national currencies and alternatives to existing international financial arrangements, while other members have different priorities and approaches to economic cooperation.
With the summit bringing together leaders from 11 countries, India faces the challenge of producing a declaration that reflects the interests of members despite their competing geopolitical, security and economic positions.
The ongoing negotiations on the joint statement are therefore expected to provide an important test of India’s ability to build consensus within the enlarged BRICS grouping.
