Archive · 8 Sep 2026
BRICS Summit Tests India’s Vision Amid U.S. Pressure
BRICS countries are meeting in New Delhi for an important summit.
The meeting will happen on September 12 and 13, 2026.
The countries want to discuss trade, energy and money.
United States tariffs and sanctions have made these discussions more urgent.
India wants BRICS to give developing countries a stronger voice.
However, BRICS members do not always agree with one another.
Some members want to reduce their dependence on the dollar and Western financial systems, while India is more cautious.
The summit will test whether BRICS can work together without becoming an opposing alliance to the United States.
India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026.
The summit will address tariffs, sanctions, energy security, conflicts and the future of the dollar.
India wants BRICS to strengthen the Global South without becoming an anti-American alliance.
Members differ over relations with the United States, Western sanctions, de-dollarisation and geopolitical priorities.
India and China are expected to discuss trade, technology imports and investment restrictions alongside broader economic cooperation.
- Who
- India and other BRICS members, including China, Russia, Iran and major energy economies, will participate; Donald Trump and United States policies are central to the discussion.
- What
- The 18th BRICS Summit will consider trade, tariffs, energy security, sanctions, financial cooperation and the role of the dollar.
- When
- September 12–13, 2026.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- Why
- Members are responding to tariff pressure, conflicts, energy-market disruption, sanctions and calls for greater influence for the Global South.
Strategic Autonomy and Practical Cooperation
Stronger Challenge to Western Dominance
BRICS’s relationship with the United States
Strategic Autonomy and Practical Cooperation
India favors a stronger Global South platform while avoiding an anti-American or anti-Western bloc and preserving strategic autonomy.
Stronger Challenge to Western Dominance
Russia and some other members see BRICS as a vehicle to challenge Western sanctions, financial dominance and United States pressure.
The future of the dollar
Strategic Autonomy and Practical Cooperation
India is cautious about making BRICS an instrument of outright de-dollarisation and may prefer reducing dependence on any single power.
Stronger Challenge to Western Dominance
Several BRICS members support greater use of local currencies and alternative payment systems to reduce reliance on Western-controlled financial networks.
Group unity
Strategic Autonomy and Practical Cooperation
The summit could provide a channel for practical cooperation on trade, technology, investment, energy and financial arrangements.
Stronger Challenge to Western Dominance
Competing interests between China and India, Russia’s priorities, Iran’s wartime expectations and Gulf members’ ties with Washington could limit a common position.
- Host
- India
- Summit
- 18th BRICS Summit
- Date
- September 12–13, 2026
- Location
- New Delhi
- Key economic issues
- Tariffs, trade, energy security and financial cooperation
- Financial debate
- Greater use of local currencies and alternative payment mechanisms versus India’s caution about outright de-dollarisation
- Regional focus
- Strengthening the Global South without creating an anti-American or anti-Western alliance