BRICS 18th Summit: Global Power Balance Debated in New Delhi

India Hosts 18th BRICS Summit Amidst Global Shifts

The 18th BRICS Summit, hosted by India, commenced on September 11, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. This significant gathering takes place as the world witnesses substantial transformations in the global economy, trade, energy security, and geopolitical scenarios.

Leaders from 11 BRICS member states, representatives from partner countries, and officials from various international organizations are participating in this highly anticipated event. The capital city is buzzing with high-level meetings, diplomatic activities, and heightened security arrangements.

For India, this summit presents a crucial opportunity to further solidify its diplomatic and economic standing on the global stage. Upon assuming the BRICS presidency in 2026, India emphasized resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability as its core priorities. The aim is to elevate BRICS beyond a mere political discourse platform into an effective vehicle for cooperation in practical areas such as economic development, technological collaboration, supply chains, energy, health, agriculture, the digital economy, and disaster management.

India intends for the summit to reach agreements on agendas that directly address the economic and social needs of developing nations.

Expanding BRICS Membership and Global Influence

A key feature of this summit is the significant expansion of BRICS from its initial limited scope to a comprehensive group of 11 member states. Currently, in addition to Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the bloc includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia.

The participation of partner countries and invited delegates has further broadened the summit's scope. This expansion clearly signals the growing desire of emerging economies to enhance their presence and influence in global decision-making processes.

Key Bilateral Talks and Geopolitical Implications

Bilateral discussions during the summit, particularly between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, are deemed exceptionally important. These meetings' significance extends beyond the BRICS framework, potentially exerting a profound influence on India-China relations, the India-Russia strategic partnership, and broader Asian geopolitics.

Any dialogue between the top leadership of India and China is considered strategically crucial amidst ongoing efforts to normalize relations. Potential discussions are expected to cover trade, investment, regional stability, and cooperation on multilateral forums, in addition to border-related issues.

While economic ties between India and China are significant, border disputes and strategic differences persist. Therefore, maintaining a balance in relations with China is a primary foreign policy objective for India. The BRICS platform offers an avenue to advance such dialogue, where both nations can discuss shared economic and developmental interests within a common multilateral framework.

Given India's deep-rooted and long-standing strategic relationship with Russia, discussions between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin are also of paramount importance. Key issues likely to be on the agenda include energy, defense, trade, coordination of payment systems, and strategic cooperation amidst evolving global circumstances.

Despite the significant shifts in global politics following the Ukraine conflict, India has maintained its ties with Russia while also strengthening its economic and strategic relationships with the United States and European nations. Upholding this balance has been a hallmark of India's foreign policy.

The Challenge of Consensus within BRICS

One of the most significant challenges facing the BRICS group is the construction of a common consensus amidst diverse political interests of its member states. The foreign policy priorities of member nations often differ.

There is direct strategic competition between India and China, relations between Russia and Western countries remain strained, and member states harbor distinct concerns regarding the complexities of West Asia. Issues like ongoing tensions in Iran and the Gulf region, and the Ukraine conflict, also pose challenges in adopting a unified stance within the group.

Consequently, the joint declaration to be issued at the end of the summit must employ language that is acceptable to all member countries. India's perspective is that BRICS should not be positioned as an anti-establishment platform for any single nation or political bloc. Instead, it should be developed as a platform that effectively represents the economic, developmental, and political interests of the Global South.

India has long advocated for increased participation of developing countries in various multilateral institutions, including the United Nations Security Council, and this issue is also part of the broader discourse.

Economic Agenda: Innovation, Supply Chains, and Digital Economy

The economic agenda of the summit places special emphasis on startups, innovation, strengthening supply chains, and the digital economy. Discussions are anticipated on proposals such as the BRICS Startup Innovation Fund and the BRICS Incubator Network.

Their primary objective is to connect the startup ecosystems of member countries, provide support to new ventures, and foster cross-border opportunities in innovation. This area is particularly important for India, given the country's unprecedented progress in startups and the digital economy in recent years.

Cooperation on global supply chains is another key economic theme of the summit. The COVID-19 pandemic, global conflicts, and regional tensions have exposed the vulnerabilities of existing supply chains. In such a scenario, BRICS countries can enhance mutual cooperation to strengthen transportation, logistics, alternative supply routes, and trade resilience.

Greater harmonization of rules related to trade, investment, and logistics among member countries could open new business opportunities for industries and exporters. Enhancing cooperation on the digital economy and cross-border payment systems is also a significant prospect among BRICS nations. India will be able to share its digital payment infrastructure and financial technology (FinTech) experiences.

Discussions on promoting trade in local currencies have been a long-standing item on BRICS's economic agenda, aiming to reduce over-reliance on a single major currency in international trade. However, progress in this direction is likely to be incremental, considering the practical challenges related to exchange rates, payment systems, capital controls, and financial stability.

Energy, Food Security, and Security Arrangements in Delhi

Energy and food security are also among India's key agenda items for this summit. Volatility in the global energy market has increased, impacting countries' energy supplies. As a group of nations with large populations, BRICS has significant potential for cooperation in the areas of energy supply, renewable energy, green technologies, and food security.

India can emphasize stable and affordable energy availability, keeping in mind the energy needs of developing countries.

Security arrangements in Delhi have been significantly tightened in anticipation of the summit. Close coordination has been established among the police, central security agencies, and paramilitary forces to ensure the safety of foreign heads of state. Surveillance has been enhanced on major roads, the summit venue, hotels, and routes to the airport.

Barricading, CCTV camera monitoring, and special traffic control measures are in place in sensitive areas. The top priority for security agencies is to ensure the safe movement of guests while minimizing inconvenience to the general public. The summit has also impacted Delhi's traffic system, with rerouted traffic on several main routes and controlled movement.

Commuters are being advised to check traffic advisories before traveling and use alternative routes where necessary. Temporary traffic restrictions may be imposed on certain routes during the movement of foreign leaders' convoys. This represents a major administrative challenge in balancing security arrangements with normal life in the capital.

New Delhi Declaration and India's Strategic Autonomy

The core sessions of the summit...