Context:

Iran, weakened by recent military strikes from Israel and the United States, is seeking to strengthen its international alliances by participating in the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro. As a new entrant to the group, Iran aims to garner support from BRICS, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, despite facing ongoing sanctions. However, internal divisions within BRICS regarding the condemnation of the military strikes highlight the challenges of maintaining unity in the alliance. Brazil, as host, is particularly cautious, striving to balance its relationships with both the United States and BRICS members. The summit presents an opportunity for Iran to secure stronger backing, though the alliance's ability to present a cohesive stance remains tested by differing national interests and geopolitical strategies.

Dive Deeper:

• Iran is joining the BRICS summit to seek support from its members, despite facing military strikes from Israel and the United States due to its nuclear program, which have left it isolated and weakened in the Middle East.

• The BRICS group, which comprises some of the world's largest emerging economies, issued a statement expressing concern over the strikes on Iran, but stopped short of directly condemning Israel or the United States, revealing divisions within the alliance.

• Iran's participation in the summit is seen as a strategic move to showcase its alliances and counterbalance the influence of Western powers, particularly as BRICS aims to challenge the global power dynamics dominated by the West.

• Internal disagreements have arisen within BRICS about how strongly to condemn the military actions against Iran, with countries like Russia and China pushing for a stronger stance, while Brazil and India remain cautious due to their ties with the United States.

• Brazil, hosting the summit, is attempting to navigate its diplomatic relations carefully, casting BRICS as a platform for developing nations rather than an anti-Western bloc, while avoiding direct confrontation with its major trading partners.

• The summit also reflects the broader challenges BRICS faces in maintaining unity amidst its expansion, as new members bring divergent views on global issues, similar to the alliance's previous struggles with Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

• With key leaders like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping not attending in person, the dynamics of the summit may further complicate efforts to achieve a unified stance on issues like Iran, as Brazil strives to uphold an agenda focused on equitable global governance.