Roadmap Ahead For BRICS: Expansion Or Exclusivity?

At the India BRICS Dialogue, organised in New Delhi by The Secretariat in collaboration with Pahle India Foundation and supported by The Spark Forum, global leaders and policy experts discussed the expansion of BRICS, its evolving geopolitical role, and the challenges of balancing inclusivity with strategic coherence in an increasingly fragmented global order.

Experts argue that the growing inclusivity of BRICS risks diluting effectiveness, turning it into a platform that accommodates divergent interests without taking firm stances on pressing global conflicts. Some maintain that BRICS remains a vital voice for the Global South, advocating for a more equitable international order amid rising economic instability, supply chain disruptions, and shifting power dynamics. 

From the role of BRICS in shaping the voice of the Global South and the need for expansion and inclusivity, experts discussed the various aspects that shape the role of BRICS in a shifting global order. 

The panellists for the second session of the India BRICS Dialogue were D. Dhanuraj, Chairman, Centre for Public Policy Research; Haitham Elashwamy, First Secretary, Embassy of Egypt in India; Aravind Yelery, Professor, JNU; and Peter Mahafha, First Secretary, Embassy of South Africa.

There is a growing perception that the platform [BRICS] is too accommodative, and avoids taking clear positions on geopolitical developments

- D. Dhanuraj, Chairman, Centre for Public Policy Research

Dhanuraj highlighted the joint declaration at the 17th BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, which stated strengthening Global South cooperation for a more inclusive and sustainable governance, committed to defending international law, and striving for a more equitable global order. "What all things happened in the last few months, and what was the position taken by BRICS? I am sure this is also probably the reason we, as the host nation, are redefining BRICS," he said.

The ongoing conflict in West Asia, disruptions in the Red Sea trade routes, and volatility in energy and currency markets have exposed deep vulnerabilities in the global economic system. 

The ripple effects are being felt across the Global South - from food security risks to inflation and stalled development gains

- Haitham Elashwamy, First Secretary, Embassy of Egypt in India

“These pressures have hit developing countries particularly hard, including Egypt, the E-trade corridor, and the Suez Canal. The ongoing conflict in West Asia has exposed the fragility of the current global economic architecture. We have witnessed severe disruptions to energy markets, heightened currency volatility, reduced supply chain fragmentation, and the organisation of sanctions and trade restrictions,” Haitham added. 

The push led primarily by China and Russia has transformed BRICS into a broader coalition, often referred to as BRICS+. But the expansion has not been without friction. "There is discomfort within the platform about how expansion was pursued," said Yelery. 

The concern is not expansion itself, but the absence of consensus and clarity on its long-term implications

- Aravind Yelery, Professor, JNU, and former Fellow, Peking University

Some members, particularly Brazil, are wary of losing the exclusivity that once defined BRICS as a compact decision-making forum.

Collaboration In Innovation

Developing countries must not remain passive consumers of technology

- Peter Mahafha, First Secretary, Embassy of South Africa

Underlining the need for collaboration in innovation and skills development, Mahafha said that the future of development is undeniably digital. Enhanced cooperation in science and technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and skill development will be essential to ensuring that emerging economies are not merely consumers of innovation but active producers and shapers of global norms and standards. 

With more members comes greater responsibility — but also more complexity in aligning positions.