Saudi Arabia at BRICS: Riyadh’s Rise as the New Bridge for the Global South

Led by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s delegation has touched down in New Delhi to take part in the BRICS Summit 2026.

The Kingdom’s participation, paired with its recent endorsement of the UN’s Global Alliance for South-South and Triangular Cooperation, underscores a commitment to actively engaging in shaping global economic dialogue and advancing multilateral cooperation across the Global South, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030.

Championing the Global South

Driving the News: Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in India on Saturday, September 12, to lead the Kingdom’s participation in BRICS Summit 2026, on behalf of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The Big Picture: On the same day, Saudi Arabia endorsed the launch of the Global Alliance for South-South and Triangular Cooperation by the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) to integrate efforts, enhance expertise exchange, and foster partnerships among countries of the Global South.

Why It Matters: Riyadh’s engagement with BRICS while supporting UN frameworks directly aligns with its policy of multi-alignment which is based on balanced partnerships and pragmatic, economic-first relationships.

The BRICS Engagement

State of Play: The BRICS Summit is taking place in New Delhi from September 12-13, 2026, under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The Kingdom participates in the summit as an invited country.

The Agenda: The summit focuses on mobilizing efforts to address shared global challenges and exploring ways to strengthen cooperation among member states. partner countries, and invited countries.

What to Know: Established in 2009, the BRICS members included Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Later the bloc expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE.

Riyadh’s Status: Saudi Arabia has maintained its status as an invited country, which fits its “positive neutrality” approach, giving Riyadh maximum diplomatic flexibility under its multi-alignment policy.

New Delhi Declaration

The Context: Taking place at a critical moment, the summit’s Joint Declaration addressed the rising tensions in the Middle East, closely mirroring Saudi Arabia’s key diplomatic principles:

• Regional Escalation: The declaration voiced concern over the ongoing escalations in the Middle East and called for maximum restraint. It urged the protection of civilian lives, vital infrastructure, and smooth trade routes.
• Two-state Solution: The declaration called for the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire and voiced firm opposition to the displacement of the Palestinian people. It also reiterated support for the two-state solution and the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine within the internationally recognized 1967 borders, which included the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
• Territorial Integrity: The declaration emphasized respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in the region, rejecting external interference.
• Maritime Security: The declaration underscored the importance of keeping critical international shipping lanes and maritime trade routes in the Red Sea and Gulf region open and free from disruption.

Zoom In: The BRICS position on the Middle East crises closely aligns with Saudi Arabia’s stance on safeguarding regional stability, maritime security, and state sovereignty.

Saudi-Global South Aligned Priorities

Between the Lines: During the UN Day for South-South Cooperation, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Alwasil highlighted how the priorities of South-South cooperation align with Saudi Vision 2030. These priorities include:

• Economic diversification
• Digital transformation
• Innovation
• Sustainability
• Youth empowerment
• The private sector

The Catalyst: The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has acted as a funding engine for development projects and programs in more than 100 countries, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to bolstering cooperation among the Global South nations to achieve more prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive development.

BRICS & Vision 2030

The Deep Dive: The BRICS joint declaration focused heavily on establishing a comprehensive framework to safeguard the Global South against economic volatility, accelerate technological sovereignty, and secure critical resources.

• Logistical Security: The BRICS leaders finalized a joint action plan to secure critical food and energy supply chains against geopolitical shocks, prioritizing smooth trade routes across West Asia.
• Critical Minerals and Energy: The declaration emphasized equitable access to raw materials and established a cooperative framework to prevent the monopolization of green transition metals and energy logistics.
• Manufacturing Equity: The bloc pledged to diversify manufacturing nodes, moving processing capacities closer to resource-rich member states in Africa and Latin America.
• AI and Quantum Cooperation: The declaration set up a dedicated working group for AI governance and quantum computing, aiming to co-develop tech standards rather than relying on Western frameworks.
• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): The members agreed to export and integrate open-source digital payment and identity systems across member states to boost financial inclusion.
• Tech Democratization: The declaration demanded that developing countries receive equal representation in global tech regulatory bodies, ensuring that emerging tech is not weaponized through export controls or tech monopolies.

Vision 2030 Alignment

Under the objectives of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to diversify non-oil GDP, attract foreign direct investment (FDI), and position the Kingdom as a global trade, logistics, and technological hub linking Asia, Europe, and Africa.

The key pillars of Saudi economic transformation reflect a high degree of alignment with BRICS priorities:

• Unlocking Global Logistics: The Kingdom’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy offers BRICS nations a pre-built, modern corridor connecting Asian supply nodes directly to European and African markets.
• Co-Financing Industrial Chains: Through the Saudi Industrial Development Fund and national companies like Ma’aden, the Kingdom provides the capital and energy infrastructure needed to turn raw mineral reserves into localized manufacturing value.
• Exporting Digital and AI Scale: Leveraging institutions like SDAIA and its booming fintech sector, Saudi Arabia can co-lead the bloc’s digital public infrastructure initiatives, exporting capital and adopting shared standards across emerging markets.

The Bottom Line: By participating in the BRICS and backing UN South-South frameworks, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as the indispensable financial, technological, and logistical bridge for the Global South.