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Lucknow, India

BRICS marks 20 years as expanded bloc faces internal rifts

Published 12 September 2026 Β· local

India is hosting the BRICS summit for the fourth time, at a difficult moment both globally and within the bloc. Since Brazil, Russia, India and

India is hosting the BRICS summit for the fourth time, at a difficult moment both globally and within the bloc. Since Brazil, Russia, India and China formed the BRIC group in 2006, the alliance has grown to 11 members, with South Africa joining in 2010 and Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE joining in 2024 under the label BRICS+.

Together, the bloc represents nearly half the world's population, 40 percent of global GDP, 26 percent of global trade and 44 percent of global crude oil production, making it a counterweight to Western-led institutions like the G7. But growth has brought new divisions.

As host, New Delhi faces a delicate balancing act, with the bloc's 20th anniversary raising questions about whether its expanded membership can empower the Global

South. Al Jazeera's Um-e-Kulsoom Shariff reports from New Delhi. Find us on Check our website Check out our Instagram page Download AJE Mobile App

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