Opinion | How much non-West is anti-West?
Summary
BRICS leaders meeting in New Delhi exposed deep divides between openly anti-Western members like Russia, China and Iran and more multipolar-minded founding members such as India, Brazil and South Africa. The summit produced a unanimous declaration but skipped endorsement of a common currency and avoided explicit mention of the Ukraine war.
Key Points
- BRICS leaders met at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and adopted a unanimous 45-page New Delhi Declaration despite sharp internal differences.
- The article argues that Russia, China and Iran are openly anti-Western, while Brazil, India and South Africa seek a more multipolar order rather than confrontation with the West.
- India was credited with bridging gaps between rivals such as Iran and the UAE and preserving consensus through a broad, principle-based text.
- The declaration did not back a common BRICS currency and emphasized divergent national priorities instead of a one-size-fits-all approach.
