BRICS Policy Center/PUC-Rio Hosts Event “War Against Iran: What Does This Mean for BRICS?”

On March 18, 2026, the BRICS Policy Center/PUC-Rio held the first event in the new series “What Does This Mean for BRICS?”. The debate, entitled “War Against Iran: What Does This Mean for BRICS?”, brought together professors, students, and members of civil society to discuss the effects of the current conflict in the Middle East on the BRICS countries.

The debate was moderated by the deputy director of BPC/PUC-Rio, Maria Elena Rodríguez, and featured comments from: Alexandre dos Santos (BPC/PUC-Rio), Márcio Scalercio (IRI/PUC-Rio), Marta Fernández (BPC/PUC-Rio), Pablo Ibañez (UFRRJ), and Paulo Illu (UFF).

During the meeting, the speakers discussed the possible ramifications of the conflict for Iran, Israel, the United States, and the BRICS countries, expressing concern about how the outcome of the war might influence the electoral processes scheduled for this year in various nations—including Brazil and the U.S. Also addressed were China’s strategic stance regarding this crisis, the connections to the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, and the different positions adopted by African countries in the current scenario.

At the end, the audience was invited to participate in a Q&A session, further deepening the debate on the diplomatic, geopolitical, and humanitarian challenges posed by this situation.