Archive · 11 Sep 2026
India Faces Challenge of Leading a Fractured BRICS
India is preparing to host a meeting of the BRICS countries in 2026.
BRICS includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and several newer members.
The group wants countries to work together on trade, technology, climate change, and global finance.
However, its members do not agree on everything.
China wants BRICS to become a stronger voice against Western dominance.
India wants cooperation but does not want BRICS to become anti-American.
Tensions also exist because of wars, trade problems, and disagreements between India and China.
The countries will need to find common ground for the summit to produce a united plan.
The final declaration will show whether India can guide the divided group.
India will host the 18th BRICS summit on September 12-13, 2026, amid growing divisions.
BRICS finance ministers met a month earlier but issued no joint statement.
India seeks cooperation on resilience, innovation, institutional reform, climate, and sustainable development.
China wants BRICS to strengthen the Global South, promote de-dollarisation, and reshape global institutions.
Disputes include Sino-Indian border tensions, wars in Iran and Ukraine, trade imbalances, and differing views toward the United States.
- Who
- India and the other BRICS member states, including China, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.
- What
- India is preparing to host the 18th BRICS summit while attempting to manage divisions over geopolitics, trade, institutional reform, and development.
- When
- The BRICS summit is scheduled for September 12-13, 2026; related finance-minister discussions occurred a month earlier.
- Where
- India will host the summit; the article also references earlier meetings in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and at the New Development Bank in Shanghai.
- Why
- The group faces disagreements over relations with the United States, China’s influence, regional conflicts, trade, financial reform, and climate policy.
India’s Moderating Approach
China’s Global-South Agenda
BRICS’s relationship with the West
India’s Moderating Approach
India supports cooperation and reform but would resist BRICS becoming anti-Western, particularly anti-American.
China’s Global-South Agenda
China seeks to use BRICS to build support among the Global South and strengthen a more multipolar order.
Global financial and political reform
India’s Moderating Approach
India favors reform of multilateral institutions and participates in efforts to expand permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council.
China’s Global-South Agenda
China supports selected reforms, including changes to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, while opposing or not supporting some efforts involving expanded permanent Security Council membership.
Strategic trust
India’s Moderating Approach
India is trying to recalibrate its foreign policy while balancing ties with the United States, regional concerns, and its relationship with China.
China’s Global-South Agenda
China views itself as the dominant Asian power, while continuing to face unresolved tensions with India over their border.
- Summit
- India is scheduled to host the 18th BRICS summit on September 12-13, 2026.
- Membership
- BRICS expanded from its original members to include South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.
- Finance ministers
- BRICS finance ministers met a month before the summit but issued no joint statement.
- Proposed agenda
- India’s themes are resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability.
- Trade imbalance
- The article says intra-BRICS trade represents 20% of South-South trade and cites India’s $100 billion trade deficit with China.
- New Development Bank
- The BRICS-created New Development Bank is based in Shanghai and is described as having $100 billion in deposits.
- Key tension
- India and China continue to face border-related distrust despite the resumption of direct flights and border trade.