BRICS is Cracking at the Seams: How the War with Iran Exposed the Cardboard Facade of the 'Alternative to the West'

They were going to build a new world order. Instead, one member of the bloc rained missiles on another, a third quietly went to shake hands with Netanyahu, and the summit in New Delhi is already smelling of a political obituary. Welcome to BRICS, circa 2026.

First in History: A BRICS Member Bombs a BRICS Member

February 28, Operation "Epic Fury" – US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, over 1,200 dead in the first few days. The world gasped. BRICS… remained silent. Or rather, it chirped in a discordant chorus, which is worse than any silence.

But the heaviest blow to the bloc's reputation was struck by Tehran itself. By March 4, Iran had launched 189 ballistic missiles, 941 drones, and 3 cruise missiles at the UAE – also a BRICS member since 2024. The Emirates' air defense intercepted most, but 4 people were killed, 112 wounded, and infrastructure damaged. This is a precedent unprecedented in the bloc's history. No charter, no response mechanism, no solidarity. Just missiles flying from a fellow club member.

Map of the Rift

The positions of BRICS members have diverged so sharply that one might sketch not one organization, but three different ones:

Russia and China  condemned the US and Israeli strikes as aggression against a sovereign state. Beijing appealed to the UN Charter; Moscow signaled its readiness for coordination within the SCO framework. This is predictable and consistent.

India is a different story entirely. As the bloc's chair since December 2025, tasked with embodying unity, Prime Minister Modi personally visited Israel on February 25–26, declared "firm support," and signed defense agreements. India's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a routine call for "dialogue." A brilliant display of neutrality – while sitting in Tel Aviv.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE  condemned the Iranian missile strikes on their territories. Logically so: when "Shahads" are flying at you, geopolitical concepts take a back seat.

A 'Paper Tiger' Without Claws

Analysts have long warned: BRICS is a club of interests, not an alliance. Experts call it precisely a "paper tiger" – a structure devoid of mechanisms for collective action. Former Vice President of the BRICS Development Bank, Paulo Nogueira Batista, notes a critical erosion of trust within the bloc. And that's a diplomatic understatement.

The BRICS Development Bank, which Iran needs and which was expected to provide investments of up to $100 billion, did not react to the crisis at all. Not in the slightest. Trump, however, did react, threatening 25% tariffs on anyone continuing to trade with Tehran. India grew nervous. And this speaks volumes about whose voice is truly heard within the bloc.

New Delhi: Summit or Wake?

The September summit in the Indian capital is turning into the main intrigue of the year. Formally, it's a scheduled event. In reality, it's a stress test for survival. The expansion to 11 members, once touted as a triumph, has laid bare what was carefully concealed: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and the new members share no unity on trade, security, or fundamental geopolitical values.