Iran War Reshapes Global Agenda as 18th BRICS Summit Focuses on Regional and Global Peace
New Delhi, India | September 12, 2026 | The Global Journal
Against the backdrop of the Iran war, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and growing global economic uncertainty, the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit has opened in New Delhi, bringing together leaders and senior representatives from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.
The two-day summit comes as the U.S.-Iran war enters its seventh month and the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues into its fifth year. The conflicts have intensified concerns over energy supplies, energy security, international trade and inflation, putting additional pressure on the global economy.
Ahead of the summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed hope for positive and meaningful discussions. China also called for dialogue and negotiations to resolve differences and for BRICS countries to work together to safeguard regional and global peace and stability.
An Expanded BRICS
The 18th summit brings together the expanded BRICS grouping, with Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa joined by Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has also been invited to the grouping, although its formal membership status remains distinct.
The first day featured a closed-door session titled “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism.”
Among the prominent leaders attending are Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
Brazil is represented by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, while Saudi Arabia is represented by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
BRICS and the Middle East Crisis
The ongoing tensions involving Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have placed the bloc’s diplomatic role under renewed focus.
BRICS leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration on September 12, expressing serious concern over the escalation of violence in the Middle East and calling for maximum restraint. The declaration also emphasized dialogue, consultation and diplomacy as the preferred means of resolving international disputes.
Chinese President Xi Jinping separately called on BRICS to play a greater role in promoting peace in the Middle East, arguing that continued warfare threatens broader global interests.
Beyond geopolitical tensions, energy security and the economic consequences of conflict remain central concerns. The participation of major energy producers and consumers gives BRICS discussions on energy, trade and supply chains particular significance.
Economic Cooperation and a Changing Global Order
The second day of the summit focuses on “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth.”
BRICS is also seeking greater cooperation in areas such as cross-border payments, economic coordination, development finance and global governance reform. Ahead of the summit, BRICS finance chiefs called for reforms to institutions including the IMF and World Bank, while supporting more efficient cross-border payment systems.
According to figures cited by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the 11-member BRICS grouping represents approximately 49.5% of the world’s population, 40% of global GDP and 26% of global trade.
The bloc has also expanded its partner-country framework, bringing countries such as Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan into closer cooperation.
With the Iran war, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, energy-security concerns and growing economic uncertainty reshaping international relations, the New Delhi summit is becoming an important test of BRICS’ ability to translate its growing economic weight into coordinated diplomatic and strategic influence.
The previous BRICS summit was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2025.
