Archive · 12 Sep 2026
India's BRICS Summit Tests Diplomatic Reach Amid Global Uncertainty
India is hosting a large meeting called the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
BRICS is a group of 11 countries that represents a very large share of the world’s people and economy.
Leaders from countries such as China and Russia are attending.
India wants the countries to work together on trade, technology, energy and other important topics.
It also wants to improve payment systems so businesses can trade more easily.
India hopes to help countries that are not part of the richest nations have a stronger voice in global institutions.
The meeting is taking place while wars, trade disputes and supply problems are creating uncertainty.
The countries do not agree on everything, so writing a shared statement may be difficult.
India is hosting the two-day 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13.
The 11-nation bloc represents roughly half the world’s population, 40 percent of global GDP and more than a quarter of world trade.
Leaders including Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin are attending as India seeks to manage ties among competing geopolitical powers.
Expected outcomes include cooperation on payment systems, supply chains, digital technology, energy, health, agriculture and climate action.
India is seeking a practical New Delhi Declaration despite disagreements over the West Asia conflict and other issues.
- Who
- India, the other BRICS members, invited partner-country representatives and the heads of the United Nations, World Health Organization, World Trade Organization and New Development Bank.
- What
- India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit and seeking agreements on trade, payments, technology, energy, global governance and other areas.
- When
- September 12–13; Vladimir Putin arrived and met Narendra Modi on September 11.
- Where
- Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, India.
- Why
- India aims to strengthen cooperation among emerging economies, manage relationships with China and Russia, and promote a larger Global South role in global institutions.
Pragmatic BRICS Cooperation
More Ambitious Integration
Economic integration
Pragmatic BRICS Cooperation
India is emphasizing usable measures such as greater use of national currencies, interoperable cross-border payment systems and stronger supply-chain cooperation.
More Ambitious Integration
Some ambitions associated with deeper BRICS integration, such as a common BRICS currency, are more symbolic and are not India’s preferred focus.
Shared positions on conflicts
Pragmatic BRICS Cooperation
India is seeking carefully negotiated cooperation and a consensus-based New Delhi Declaration despite differences over the West Asia conflict.
More Ambitious Integration
Disagreements have already limited consensus, with BRICS foreign ministers unable to agree on a joint communique and issuing a chair’s statement instead.
- Host country
- India
- Summit
- 18th BRICS Summit
- Dates
- September 12–13
- Venue
- Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
- India’s BRICS chair terms
- 2012, 2016, 2021 and the current chairship
- Chairship theme
- Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability
- Expected declaration
- New Delhi Declaration