Key facts
- BRICS leaders adopted a joint statement calling for reforms to Western-dominated financial institutions.
- The statement did not explicitly name the United States or the Trump administration.
- BRICS called for "maximum restraint" in the Middle East conflict.
- The joint statement made no mention of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev skipped the summit to visit South Korea.
- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev advocated for dialogue among nuclear powers to reduce risks.
The BRICS summit, comprising emerging markets and developing countries, concluded with a joint statement on September 12 that called for significant reforms to Western-dominated financial institutions like the WTO, IMF, and World Bank to increase the say of developing nations. However, the summit, hosted by India, did not present a unified stance on major global conflicts, reflecting internal divisions among member states.
While the joint statement included veiled criticisms of protectionist trade actions, it notably avoided naming the United States or the Trump administration. Similarly, on the Middle East conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, BRICS called for "maximum restraint" from all sides, rather than taking a clear position favoring Tehran. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian did hold a one-on-one meeting with Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, seen as a symbolic move to counter perceptions of Iran's economic isolation, though Abu Dhabi officials issued a non-committal statement about future bilateral ties.
The summit's joint statement also omitted any mention of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a move seen as beneficial to Russia. The lack of a united front was further underscored by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's absence from the summit in favor of a state visit to South Korea. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, attending the summit, adopted a balanced foreign policy approach, emphasizing the need for dialogue among nuclear powers to reduce risks, which could be interpreted as a reference to US-China rivalry in AI development, an area where Central Asia is becoming a key battleground.
Tokayev also met with US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, on the sidelines of the gathering, expressing a desire for concrete actions and progress on bilateral issues with the United States, including the repeal of Kazakhstan's Jackson-Vanik trade status.