The 2026 Delhi summit of BRICS has been under a spotlight this weekend, and things under a spotlight tend to look bigger and brighter than they actually are. Eleven members, a dozen invitees, Chinese President Xi Jinping visiting India after seven years, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sharing a table with crown prince of Abu Dhabi — this assembly of heavy weights in a world in turmoil has once again generated speculations that it could emerge as a counter pole to the US. The media commentary has generally tended to portray the summit as a moment of great geopolitical consequence. In reality, the summit is far more modest, and the Indian agenda, quite realistically, reflects that.

What does BRICS do? Mostly, it is a messaging platform. Countries use it to signal mainly to the US and the West. Where a member can negotiate with Washington, it negotiates, bilaterally and quietly. Where it does not agree, cannot agree, or will not agree, it comes to a forum like BRICS and makes a polemical statement.

They do have rhetorical value. But, they do not have much material value, because such statements, of which we find plenty in BRICS declarations over the years, are not backed by rules, force, or any consequence for the country it is aimed at.

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The grouping gives leaders who do not otherwise meet much, a place to talk about the world, in the main forum and on the........

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