New Delhi: India has convened the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on 12-13 September, bringing together leaders from member and partner countries to discuss economic cooperation, trade resilience and multilateral engagement amid a turbulent global order. The summit, conducted under India’s 2026 Chairship, is themed "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability".
Diplomacy and trade at the top of the agenda
Officials said bilateral meetings and discussions on industrial and economic cooperation figure prominently in the schedule. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already begun a series of bilateral interactions, including a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the Prime Minister presented a Russian translation of the Tamil classic Thirukkural, according to reporting.
Former Biju Janata Dal Rajya Sabha MP Amar Patnaik described BRICS as a forum that can help defuse tensions among countries and bolster trade links in uncertain geopolitical times. In an interview with ANI, he said the grouping contributes to trade resilience and channels cooperation beyond member states.
"The forum effectively resolves tensions among member states and extends its influence to non-BRICS regions, facilitating enhanced trade and commerce, especially amid the current unstable global geopolitics," Patnaik said.
Attendance and international profile
National reporting indicated that leaders and high-level representatives from member countries and partners have reached New Delhi for the summit. The presence of the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was highlighted as signalling global attention. Heads of state from Russia, Iran, South Africa, Nigeria and Uganda were among those reported to have arrived for the meetings.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was reported to have praised BRICS as an important bulwark against unilateralism and as a mechanism for wider economic cooperation. Delegations are expected to prioritise industrial ties, trade facilitation and coordination on global governance reforms affecting the Global South.
- Summit dates: 12-13 September 2026
- Theme: Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability
- India’s role: Chairing the summit in 2026 and hosting bilateral diplomatic engagements
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Session | 18th BRICS Summit |
| Host | India (New Delhi) |
| Dates | 12-13 September 2026 |
Policy implications and challenges
Observers noted that the summit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions globally and offers participating states a platform to pursue collective economic agendas while seeking alternatives to unilateral measures in trade and finance. India’s Chairship has emphasised resiliency and innovation, signalling an interest in steering the grouping toward pragmatic cooperation on supply chains, technology and sustainable development.
At the same time, the diplomatic choreography of such multilateral gatherings presents challenges: reconciling divergent political priorities, sustaining momentum on concrete deliverables and managing the optics of bilateral ties within a larger multilateral setting. Officials said summit outcomes would be watched closely for any commitments on trade facilitation, development financing and cooperation on digital infrastructure.
Reporting noted that business and economic cooperation were expected to dominate the agenda, with leaders exploring measures to deepen industrial collaboration and enhance trade linkages. The involvement of partner nations and global institutions adds to the summit’s significance as a forum for articulating alternatives to existing global economic architecture, particularly from the perspective of the Global South.
With inputs from agencies, the summit is expected to culminate in a leaders’ declaration outlining shared priorities and potential cooperative frameworks. Final communiqués and announcements will be released at the conclusion of the two-day meeting.
