BRICS is becoming more significant at precisely the moment when it is becoming harder to say what it stands for. The New Delhi summit brought together countries with sharply divergent interests, rivalries and political systems. Yet they managed to produce a joint declaration at a time when agreement within the grouping has become increasingly difficult. That paradox may define BRICS’ future. Its members are not a natural alliance. India and China remain strategic competitors despite a recent improvement in ties. Russia is fighting a prolonged war in Ukraine.

Iran is confronting the United States and Israel. The United Arab Emirates has its own interests in a region increasingly shaped by conflict. Their willingness to share a forum therefore cannot be dismissed as diplomatic theatre. But BRICS is not a coherent alternative power bloc to the West. Dissatisfaction with the existing world order is not the same as an agreement about what should replace it. The New Delhi declaration illustrated the distinction. It found language broad enough to accommodate sharply different positions on West Asia, criticised unilateral sanctions and rising tariffs, but avoided........

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