India has emerged as the centre of international diplomacy as the 18th BRICS Summit gets underway at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on September 12–13. Hosted under India’s 2026 BRICS chairship, the summit brings together leaders of major emerging economies at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine, economic uncertainty and growing debate over reforms in the global financial and political order.
The summit is being attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, President Xi Jinping of China, President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa. Leaders and senior representatives from Brazil, Ethiopia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates are also participating, underlining the increasingly broad geographical representation of BRICS.
One of the most closely watched arrivals has been that of Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose visit to India is his first in seven years. His presence has added a significant bilateral dimension to the summit, with India-China relations, trade, regional security and economic cooperation expected to feature prominently in discussions between Xi and Prime Minister Modi.
Key Inputs
The summit’s discussions are focused on global economic governance, trade and investment, energy security, food security, technology, digital cooperation, sustainable development and the greater use of national currencies in international trade. India is also pressing for reforms in global institutions, including the United Nations Security Council, IMF, World Bank and WTO, arguing that developing and emerging economies need stronger representation in decision-making.
Prime Minister Modi has additionally highlighted the need for safer international maritime routes and proposed cooperation on an emergency support network for seafarers. The broader Indian approach is centred on strengthening the Global South while presenting BRICS as an inclusive platform rather than an organisation directed against any particular country.
Expected Outputs
A major outcome is the agreement on a joint BRICS declaration, achieved despite differences among members over conflicts in the Middle East. The declaration is expected to emphasise dialogue, sovereignty and opposition to unilateral aggression without directly naming individual countries.
India’s BRICS presidency has also reported more than 50 practical outcomes across four priority areas resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability including frameworks and action plans intended to deepen cooperation among member countries.
New Delhi summit therefore carries significance far beyond a two-day diplomatic gathering. It represents BRICS’ continuing evolution into a larger Global South platform seeking a greater voice in international institutions, stronger economic cooperation and a more multipolar global order.
