India Set to Lead BRICS Amid Conflicting Interests, Global Ambitions and US Pressure

Source: CNA | Original Published At: 2025-12-29 03:54:38 UTC

Key Points

• India will prioritize Global South interests during its 2026 BRICS presidency, emphasizing climate action, poverty reduction, and infrastructure development through the New Development Bank.
• BRICS expansion to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, and Indonesia brings both increased representation (half global population, 40% GDP) and divergent national interests.
• India seeks to balance BRICS' anti-Western multilateral agenda with its own trade negotiations with the United States amid threatened US tariffs on BRICS currency initiatives.
• Key challenges include managing India-China tensions and replicating India's decentralized G20 presidency model across domestic venues.
• Analysts highlight potential for BRICS to create alternative financial mechanisms reducing Global South dependence on Western institutions.