BRICS is not a group of allies, but an informal platform of 11 countries with different political systems, economic priorities and strategic interests. India and China are both major economies and trading partners with overlapping aspirations. Iran and the UAE have been launching missiles at each other for the last 2 mths. Several members are active in other regional and global initiatives as well - China in SCO and BRI, India in Quad, Brazil in G20. This diversity reflects multiple partnerships that major economies maintain today.
When consensus is required among all BRICS members, outcomes tend to settle at the lowest common denominator. These include knowledge exchange, working groups, joint statements. They are useful but don't move the real economy. This happens through businesses. So, the question to ask is: does BRICS help build projects, reduce costs, deepen markets or secure supply chains? If not, it risks becoming a talking shop.
