Will BRICS Become an International Organization?

Source: Известия | Original Published At: 2026-09-13 16:41:31 UTC

Key Points

• The New Delhi summit adopted a final declaration despite disagreements, including tensions involving Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
• The meeting was held in an expanded format with leaders and representatives of BRICS partner countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
• Saudi Arabia's status remained ambiguous: it was listed as a full participant by the Indian presidency but was absent from some leader-level sessions.
• India proposed a 'troika' coordination mechanism and a secure digital repository for tracking agreements, while Iran called for a permanent BRICS secretariat.
• The article frames BRICS as gradually seeking stronger institutional memory and coordination, but not necessarily becoming a classic international organization or military bloc.
• BRICS members account for nearly half the world's population, about 40% of global GDP and roughly a quarter of global trade.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized complementary economies, payment and settlement infrastructure, a grain exchange, reinsurance mechanisms and strengthening the New Development Bank.