India and China are expected to press for BRICS-level engagement on the Strait of Hormuz crisis at the grouping's September summit, analysts say, offering a potential diplomatic channel to complement Western efforts as global energy concerns grow.
Summit seen as platform for parallel diplomacy
The two Asian powers will meet in an 11-member forum from 12 to 13 September, at a time when the aftermath of the Middle East conflict has tightened energy markets and raised the prospect of wider economic disruption. Collectively, BRICS accounts for approximately 40 per cent of global GDP, a fact that observers say gives the grouping leverage to influence outcomes beyond bilateral talks.
“I see a convergence of interests between India and China, though not necessarily a convergence in geopolitical positions,”
said Uday Chandra, a political-science professor at Ashoka University, according to reporting. Chandra argued both capitals have incentives to contain the Iran and Ukraine wars, secure energy supply routes and stabilise the world economy in the medium term.
Common objectives, differing alignments
Despite overlapping goals, New Delhi and Beijing maintain distinct diplomatic relationships that shape how they might act within BRICS. China retains closer ties with Russia and Iran, while India has cultivated strategic partnerships with the United States, Europe, Israel, the UAE and Ukraine. Those divergent affinities mean cooperation inside BRICS will likely be pragmatic and issue-specific rather than a full geopolitical convergence.
Analysts say that paradoxically, those differences could make a joint India-China initiative more effective: if Beijing and New Delhi back measures that aim to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reassure energy markets, their pooled economic and political weight might encourage other BRICS members to support steps short of military intervention.
- Energy security: Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is crucial to stabilising oil and gas flows that many BRICS economies depend on.
- Economic leverage: A combined BRICS diplomatic push could use trade and investment incentives to de-escalate tensions.
- Mediation scope: BRICS may offer parallel diplomacy that complements Western initiatives, particularly where US-led efforts have made limited headway.
Role of Brazil and the Global South
Observers singled out Brazil as a potentially moderating voice capable of bridging internal BRICS divides. As a prominent representative of the Global South, Brazil may help craft language and proposals that balance the priorities of Asian, African and Latin American members while avoiding explicit alignment with any military camp.
Any BRICS initiative will face hurdles. Members' varying energy dependencies, security ties and trade linkages complicate consensus-building. Moreover, BRICS is primarily an economic platform, not a security alliance; turning economic influence into tangible steps to secure a maritime chokepoint would be an uncommon exercise for the grouping.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Summit dates | 12–13 September |
| BRICS membership | 11 members |
| Share of world GDP | ~40% |
Implications for India
For New Delhi, backing collective BRICS engagement serves multiple purposes: it projects India as a responsible stakeholder in global energy stability, leverages a multilateral forum to pursue de-escalation, and balances ties with major powers without foregoing strategic partnerships. At the same time, India must manage sensitivities arising from China's closer rapport with Iran and Russia, assuring partners that any BRICS action will favour stability and secure supply lines rather than shift regional balances of power.
How far BRICS can move from statements to practical measures remains uncertain. Analysts warn that while the grouping's economic heft is substantial, converting that into coordinated diplomatic pressure or actionable mediation will require navigating deep divergences among members. Still, with Western efforts to resolve the Strait of Hormuz tensions making limited visible progress, the September summit offers a timely — if challenging — opportunity for India and China to use BRICS as an instrument of parallel diplomacy.
