The idea was simple. Build a massive, non-Western club that could flip the script on global power. For years, the BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—marketed themselves as the ultimate alternative to the G7. Then they doubled down, inviting Iran, the UAE, and Ethiopia into the fold to prove they were the new center of gravity.
But the current war in Iran is proving that adding more seats to the table just means more people to argue over the bill.
The two-day foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi that just wrapped up on May 15, 2026, didn't end with a bold declaration of unity. Instead, it ended with a polite way of saying, "we can’t agree on anything." For the second time in a row, the bloc failed to produce a joint statement on the US-Israeli strikes against Iran. When you're trying to build a new world order, "differing views" is basically code for "the wheels are falling off."
The Elephant in the Room is a Fighter Jet
You can't talk about BRICS unity without talking about the fact that its members are literally on opposite sides of a shooting war. Iran is now a full member. It’s sitting at the table, bleeding from airstrikes, and demanding that its "brothers" condemn the US and Israel.
But look who's sitting across from them. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a BRICS member too. The UAE has spent years trying to balance its security ties with the West while keeping a wary eye on Tehran. Reports of "secret" diplomatic trips between Israeli officials and Gulf leaders are flying around, and even if they’re denied, the tension is thick enough to cut with a knife.
India, the 2026 chair, is stuck in the middle. Prime Minister Modi’s government has invested billions in Iran’s Chabahar port to bypass Pakistan. At the same time, India’s trade with the UAE and its strategic partnership with the US are vital. When Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar talks about "considerable flux" in international relations, he’s being a diplomat. What he really means is that he’s trying to hold together a group where one member wants to burn the house down and the other is calling the fire department.
China’s Silence and Russia’s Distraction
For a long time, we were told China was the glue. Beijing was the one that brokered the surprise Saudi-Iran deal in 2023, right? People thought China was the new sheriff in the Middle East.
Fast forward to May 2026. President Xi Jinping didn’t even send his top diplomat, Wang Yi, to the New Delhi meeting. Why? Because Xi was busy hosting Donald Trump in Beijing. China wants to be the leader of the Global South, but it also doesn't want its economy trashed by a total rupture with the West. By staying quiet on the Iran war, China is showing that its own "stability" comes way before BRICS solidarity.
Then there’s Russia. Putin is thrilled by the chaos because it drives up oil prices, which helps fund his own ongoing war. But Russia can't lead a cohesive economic bloc when it's under total Western sanctions. Russia wants a "BRICS currency" to kill the dollar, but Brazil and India aren't ready to jump off that cliff yet. They see what’s happening to Iran’s economy under fire and realize that being "anti-Western" is a very expensive hobby.
The Strait of Hormuz is the Ultimate Stress Test
It’s not just about politics; it’s about the money. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent oil prices screaming toward the ceiling. If you’re India or South Africa, you’re an energy importer. You don't care about "multipolarity" when your citizens can't afford gas because of a war involving another BRICS member.
The conflict has exposed a massive flaw in the BRICS expansion. Adding Iran brought in energy reserves, but it also brought in a target. The bloc is finding out that it's much easier to criticize the US from the sidelines than it is to actually manage a security crisis when the bombs start falling on your own members.
Why the "Alternative World Order" is Stalling
- Competing Interests: The UAE and Iran are regional rivals. You can’t just put them in a room and expect them to share a currency.
- Energy Insecurity: High oil prices caused by the war are hurting the poorer members of the bloc, creating an internal class divide.
- Lack of a Security Framework: BRICS was built for trade. It has zero mechanisms to handle a member being attacked.
- The Dollar’s Persistence: Despite the talk of "de-dollarization," when things get scary, everyone still runs to the US dollar as a safe haven.
What’s Next for the Bloc
The 18th Annual Summit in September is the next big test. If the leaders can't find a way to talk about Iran without the room exploding, BRICS risks becoming a glorified debating club—like a G7 but with more frequent-flyer miles and fewer results.
If you're watching this as an investor or a policy wonk, stop looking at the press releases about "Global South unity." Instead, watch the shipping lanes in the Gulf and the bilateral trade deals between India and the UAE. That’s where the real power is shifting.
The dream of a unified BRICS is currently being tested in the skies over Tehran. If the bloc can’t protect its own or even agree on a basic statement of support, it won't be the "new world order" for long. It'll just be another acronym in the history books. Keep an eye on the September summit in India; if the joint communique is just more fluff about "cooperation," you'll know the fracture is permanent.
