BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi: World Leaders Gather as Global South Seeks a Greater Voice
By R. Tri Priyo Nugroho
POINT Consultant
Abstrak
BRICS Summit 2026 yang diselenggarakan di New Delhi, India, menjadi momentum penting dalam perkembangan BRICS sebagai salah satu platform utama kerja sama negara-negara Global South. Di tengah perubahan tatanan geopolitik, ketegangan internasional, fragmentasi ekonomi global, serta meningkatnya persaingan dalam bidang teknologi dan perdagangan, BRICS menghadapi tantangan sekaligus peluang untuk memperkuat perannya dalam tata kelola global. Artikel ini menganalisis dinamika BRICS 2026 dengan menyoroti kepemimpinan India, partisipasi negara-negara anggota dan mitra, agenda ekonomi dan geopolitik, kerja sama teknologi khususnya artificial intelligence (AI), ketahanan rantai pasok, keamanan energi dan pangan, serta agenda reformasi institusi internasional. Artikel ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif-deskriptif melalui analisis terhadap perkembangan diplomatik, kebijakan, dan agenda strategis BRICS. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa BRICS semakin berkembang dari sekadar forum ekonomi negara
Keywords : BRICS 2026; BRICS Summit; Global South; Multipolarity; Geopolitics; Economic Cooperation; International Governance; De-dollarization; Artificial Intelligence; Sustainable Development.
Introduction
Perubahan struktur politik dan ekonomi internasional dalam beberapa tahun terakhir telah memperlihatkan semakin kuatnya tuntutan terhadap terbentuknya tata dunia yang lebih multipolar. Dominasi negara-negara maju dan institusi internasional yang selama beberapa dekade menjadi pusat pengambilan keputusan global semakin mendapatkan tantangan dari negara-negara berkembang yang menginginkan representasi dan pengaruh yang lebih besar. Dalam konteks tersebut, BRICS berkembang menjadi salah satu forum yang paling penting
The 18th BRICS Summit, hosted by India in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, brought together senior leaders and representatives from across the expanded BRICS grouping and invited countries at a moment of profound geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
Hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the summit placed the growing influence of the Global South at the centre of international diplomacy. Discussions ranged from global governance reform and trade to energy security, technology, artificial intelligence, supply-chain resilience, financial cooperation and the conflicts affecting West Asia and Ukraine.
The New Delhi meeting was particularly significant because BRICS has evolved considerably from its original composition of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Its expanded membership now encompasses major economies and geopolitical actors across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.
The summit also demonstrated an important reality about the expanded BRICS: its influence is growing, but so are the differences among its members.
India Takes Centre Stage as BRICS Host
India assumed the BRICS chairship for 2026 and hosted the summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
India's stated priorities included building resilience, encouraging innovation, strengthening cooperation and advancing sustainable and inclusive growth. The agenda also reflected New Delhi's effort to position BRICS as a practical platform for addressing challenges faced by developing countries rather than simply as a geopolitical counterweight to Western powers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the summit to call for greater international cooperation at a time when geopolitical tensions, supply-chain disruptions and technological competition are increasingly affecting developing economies.
Among India's priorities were stronger cooperation in:
- Food and energy security
- Public health
- Disaster resilience
- Critical supply chains
- Trade and investment
- Digital and financial connectivity
- Artificial intelligence
- Climate and sustainable development
- Reform of international institutions
Modi also emphasized that BRICS should translate political declarations into concrete programmes that can produce benefits for ordinary people and countries of the Global South. AP News
Who Attended the 2026 BRICS Summit ?
The New Delhi summit brought together a combination of heads of government, senior ministers and representatives of BRICS members, invited countries and international institutions.
India — Narendra Modi
As host and BRICS chair, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the central figure of the summit.
For India, the meeting provided an opportunity to demonstrate its diplomatic reach while maintaining relationships with countries that have very different political and strategic orientations.
India has simultaneously sought closer economic engagement with Western economies while maintaining its longstanding relationships with Russia and strengthening engagement with China, the Gulf states and other Global South countries.
Modi also held important bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the summit, particularly with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Modi-Xi meeting was closely watched because it represented another step in the gradual improvement of India-China relations following years of tensions along their disputed Himalayan border. Reuters+1
China — Xi Jinping
Chinese President Xi Jinping was among the most prominent international leaders at the summit.
His attendance was particularly significant because it marked his first visit to India in seven years. Xi and Modi used the summit to discuss the improvement of bilateral relations, including economic and transport connectivity, trade, market access and efforts to maintain peace along the India-China border. Reuters
Xi also promoted what China describes as a broader "Greater BRICS" approach.
China proposed initiatives involving artificial intelligence, services trade, special economic zones and industrial supply chains. One proposal was the creation of a BRICS AI Open Source Zone, designed to encourage cooperation in artificial intelligence among participating countries. Reuters
China's approach illustrates Beijing's ambition to make BRICS not merely a political discussion forum but an increasingly interconnected economic, technological and investment platform.
Russia — Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the summit and held discussions with Prime Minister Modi before the main BRICS meetings.
His participation was closely watched internationally because the New Delhi summit represented Putin's first in-person attendance at a BRICS summit outside Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Financial Times
Russia has increasingly portrayed BRICS as an important mechanism for developing economic relationships outside Western-led institutions.
Putin argued for stronger cooperation in areas including technology, infrastructure, investment and payment systems, while criticising sanctions and trade restrictions imposed by Western countries. Reuters
For India, the summit also provided another opportunity to reinforce its strategic relationship with Moscow, particularly in energy, defence and trade.
South Africa — Cyril Ramaphosa
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa represented one of the original BRICS expansion partners.
South Africa remains an important bridge between BRICS and the African continent. Pretoria has consistently advocated greater representation for developing countries in global institutions, including reform of the United Nations and international financial institutions.
South Africa's participation therefore reinforces the African dimension of BRICS and its broader Global South agenda. The South African presidency confirmed that Ramaphosa would attend the New Delhi summit under India's 2026 chairship. Presidency
Iran — Masoud Pezeshkian
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was another highly significant participant.
Iran's membership has added a major Middle Eastern geopolitical dimension to BRICS. At the same time, the continuing conflict involving Iran created one of the most difficult diplomatic challenges for the summit.
Iran and the United Arab Emirates have been on opposing sides of the regional crisis, creating a major test for BRICS' consensus-based decision-making.
Nevertheless, the summit succeeded in producing language calling for restraint and addressing the wider regional crisis. The participation of both Iran and the UAE demonstrated that BRICS is increasingly becoming a forum where countries with serious bilateral and regional differences must attempt to coexist diplomatically.
Egypt — Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi attended the summit.
Egypt's participation strengthens BRICS' links with North Africa and the wider Arab world. Cairo's strategic position along the Suez Canal also gives it particular importance for discussions concerning international trade, logistics and global supply chains.
Ethiopia — Abiy Ahmed
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed represented Ethiopia.
Ethiopia's membership gives BRICS an important additional African dimension and reflects the grouping's interest in expanding economic and political engagement with African economies.
For Ethiopia, BRICS provides opportunities for investment, infrastructure cooperation, trade and stronger links with emerging economies.
Indonesia — Prabowo Subianto
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto attended the New Delhi summit.
Indonesia's participation is especially significant because it is the largest economy in Southeast Asia and an increasingly influential member of the Global South.
Prabowo arrived in New Delhi for the summit accompanied by Foreign Minister Sugiono and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. India described Indonesia as an important partner in advancing cooperation among developing countries in the Indo-Pacific. Antara News
Indonesia's role also gives BRICS greater geographical reach into Southeast Asia.
United Arab Emirates — Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
The UAE delegation was led by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
The UAE's representation was notable because of the country's increasingly important role in international investment, energy, logistics and finance.
Its participation alongside Iran was also diplomatically significant given the severe regional tensions of 2026.
Brazil — Mauro Vieira
Brazil was represented by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, rather than President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Lula's absence was particularly noticeable because Brazil is one of the original BRICS countries. According to reports, domestic political considerations and Brazil's electoral calendar prevented the president from attending personally.
Brazil nevertheless remained represented at a senior level, underlining its continuing commitment to the BRICS framework.
Saudi Arabia — Prince Faisal bin Farhan
Saudi Arabia's participation requires particular clarification.
Although Saudi Arabia has been associated with the expanded BRICS grouping, its status has remained politically and institutionally more complicated than that of countries such as Indonesia or Iran. At the New Delhi summit, Saudi Arabia was represented by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, acting on behalf of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
Prince Faisal participated in the summit's discussions and addressed concerns about the security and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states amid escalating regional tensions. Saudi Gazette
This representation also illustrates the increasingly broad diplomatic character of BRICS, where membership, partnership and invited participation can overlap in practice.
A Summit Held Against the Background of War and Geopolitical Rivalry
The New Delhi summit took place amid some of the most serious geopolitical tensions in years.
The continuing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States placed enormous pressure on BRICS diplomacy. The grouping includes Iran, while the UAE and Saudi Arabia have their own security concerns and relationships with the United States and other Western powers.
At the same time, the war in Ukraine continued to shape relations between Russia and Western countries.
These circumstances created a fundamental question for BRICS:
Can an increasingly diverse group of countries maintain consensus when its members have fundamentally different geopolitical interests ?
The fact that the summit produced a joint declaration despite these differences was therefore diplomatically significant. The declaration addressed conflicts and global economic issues while criticising unilateral sanctions and protectionist trade measures.
BRICS and the Global South
One of the most important themes emerging from the summit was the effort to strengthen the voice of the Global South.
BRICS now represents an enormous share of the world's population and roughly 40% of global economic output measured by purchasing power parity, according to assessments cited during the summit discussions.
Its members argue that the international system created after the Second World War does not adequately reflect today's economic realities.
They have therefore called for :
- Greater representation of developing countries in global institutions
- Reform of the United Nations Security Council
- Reform of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank
- Greater use of local currencies in international trade
- More resilient international payment mechanisms
- Increased South-South investment
- Greater cooperation in technology and AI
- Stronger food and energy security
The objective is not necessarily to replace the existing global system entirely, but increasingly to create greater room for emerging economies to influence its rules.
- De-Dollarisation and Alternative Payment Systems
Financial cooperation remained an important BRICS issue.
- Several BRICS members have advocated reducing excessive dependence on the US dollar for international transactions.
However, the summit demonstrated that creating a common BRICS currency remains considerably more difficult than developing alternative payment mechanisms.
The more immediate direction appears to be cooperation on cross-border payments, local-currency settlements and financial infrastructure rather than the immediate creation of a single BRICS currency.
This distinction is important.
BRICS economies differ significantly in their monetary systems, capital markets, exchange-rate regimes and economic structures. Building a common currency would therefore be far more complicated than increasing the use of national currencies in bilateral trade.
Artificial Intelligence Becomes a BRICS Priority
Technology emerged as another major area of cooperation.
China's proposal for a BRICS AI Open Source Zone reflects the growing recognition that artificial intelligence will influence economic competitiveness, national security and development.
The proposal also reflects a broader concern among emerging economies: that the technological revolution could become concentrated among a small number of companies and countries.
Cooperation in AI could potentially allow BRICS members to share research, applications and technological resources while increasing access for developing economies. Reuters
Supply Chains, Energy and Food Security
The disruption of global trade routes has made supply-chain resilience a strategic issue.
BRICS discussions therefore focused increasingly on logistics, transport corridors, energy security and food supplies.
The proposed BRICS Logistics Supply-Chain Cooperation Framework is intended to improve cooperation and resilience across member economies. Other initiatives discussed include a BRICS Incubator Network and Startup Innovation Fund. The Indian Express
These initiatives could eventually be more consequential than some of the summit's political declarations because they seek to create permanent mechanisms for cooperation among businesses, governments and investors.
India-China Relations: A Major Side Story
Perhaps one of the most closely watched diplomatic developments surrounding the summit was the meeting between Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping.
India and China remain competitors in Asia, and their relationship was severely damaged by the 2020 border conflict.
However, both countries have recently attempted to stabilise their relationship.
Their meeting in New Delhi focused on strengthening economic and transport links, improving market access and maintaining peace along their disputed frontier. Bilateral trade has grown substantially, although India continues to face a large trade deficit with China. Reuters
The meeting demonstrated how BRICS can provide a diplomatic environment in which countries with serious bilateral disputes can nevertheless engage in dialogue.
India-Russia Relations
Prime Minister Modi also held extensive discussions with Vladimir Putin.
Energy, defence, trade and strategic cooperation remained important areas of the India-Russia relationship.
The two countries have expressed an ambition to increase bilateral trade to US$100 billion by 2030, compared withICS now brings together countries with enormous populations, natural resources, industrial capacity, financial power and geopolitical influence. Yet the organisation's strength does not come from having a more multipolar vision of international relations. For Indonesia and other newer members, it opened additional opportunities for economic and diplomatic cooperation. For countries such as Iran, the roughly US$70 billion in the 2024–25 period. Reuters
For India, maintaining this relationship while simultaneously expanding ties with the United States and other Western economies remains an important element of its multi-alignment strategy.
BRICS as a Test of Multipolarity
The New Delhi summit reinforced the idea that BRICS is becoming one of the most important platforms for the emerging multipolar international order.
Its members do not share a single ideology.
India has close relations with the United States but remains a major Russian energy customer.
China competes strategically with India while simultaneously seeking deeper BRICS cooperation.
Iran is in direct conflict with actors supported by some other BRICS participants.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia maintain important economic and security relationships with Western countries.
Brazil continues to pursue an independent foreign policy rooted in multilateralism.
This diversity makes BRICS difficult to manage—but it is also one of the reasons the grouping has become diplomatically important.
What the 2026 Summit Achieved
The New Delhi summit produced several notable outcomes.
First, BRICS demonstrated that its expanded membership does not automatically make consensus impossible.
Second, members reaffirmed opposition to unilateral sanctions and excessive protectionism.
Third, the group strengthened discussions on alternative financial and payment mechanisms.
Fourth, technology—particularly AI—was elevated as a major area of cooperation.
Fifth, BRICS placed greater emphasis on supply-chain resilience, infrastructure, food and energy security.
Sixth, the summit reinforced calls for reform of global institutions.
And finally, the gathering provided a platform for bilateral diplomacy between countries whose relationships are central to the future of Asia and the wider Global South.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the summit's achievements, BRICS faces significant challenges.
The first is political diversity. The interests of China, India, Russia, Iran, the Gulf states, Brazil and African members do not always align.
The second is economic diversity. BRICS contains major industrial economies, commodity exporters, rapidly developing countries and economies facing serious structural challenges.
The third is the question of institutional capacity. Announcements are relatively easy; implementing cross-border projects involving 11 members is much harder.
The fourth is the question of strategic identity. BRICS members disagree over whether the organisation should primarily be an economic cooperation mechanism, a Global South diplomatic platform or a counterweight to Western influence.
The fifth is the challenge of maintaining consensus during international crises.
The Iran-UAE tensions during the 2026 summit illustrated precisely how difficult this can become.
China Takes the BRICS Chair
At the conclusion of India's 2026 chairship, China took over the next BRICS chairmanship.
Beijing is expected to place particular emphasis on economic integration, technological cooperation, industrial development and the expansion of what Chinese officials describe as a broader BRICS framework.
Xi Jinping's proposals at the New Delhi summit already indicated that China wants technology, AI, services trade and industrial supply chains to become central pillars of the organisation's next phase. Reuters
Conclusion
The 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi was more than a meeting of emerging economies.
It was a demonstration of how dramatically the international system is changing.
BRICS now brings together countries with enormous populations, natural resources, industrial capacity, financial power and geopolitical influence. Yet the organisation's strength does not come from having identical interests. Its importance comes partly from its ability to bring countries with different interests into the same diplomatic framework.
The New Delhi summit showed both sides of this equation.
BRICS is becoming more influential—but also more complicated.
For India, the summit was an opportunity to demonstrate diplomatic leadership and strengthen its position as an important voice of the Global South. For China and Russia, it provided a platform to advance a more multipolar vision of international relations. For Indonesia and other newer members, it opened additional opportunities for economic and diplomatic cooperation. For countries such as Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, BRICS offered another channel through which regional interests could be represented.
The ultimate test, however, will not be the size of the summit or the number of declarations issued.
It will be whether BRICS can transform its political ambition into practical cooperation in trade, investment, technology, infrastructure, finance, energy, food security and sustainable development.
If it succeeds, the New Delhi summit could be remembered as an important stage in the transformation of BRICS from a loose grouping of emerging economies into a significant institution of the evolving multipolar world.
If it fails to bridge its internal differences, its growing membership could become a source of fragmentation rather than strength.
For now, the message from New Delhi is clear: the Global South wants a larger role in shaping the rules of the international system—and BRICS intends to be one of its principal vehicles.
Resume :
The 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi represented an important moment in the development of BRICS as a strategic platform for countries of the Global South. Under India's leadership, the summit demonstrated that the BRICS agenda has expanded beyond traditional economic cooperation to include geopolitics, global governance reform, technology, artificial intelligence (AI), trade, energy security, food security, financial cooperation, and sustainable development.
The expansion of BRICS has increased the group's demographic, economic, and geopolitical significance. Although its members have different political systems, economic structures, and national interests, they share a broad interest in strengthening the representation of developing countries within the international system. In this context, BRICS has become an important mechanism for promoting a more multipolar international order and enhancing the voice of the Global South in global decision-making.
Economic and financial cooperation remained among the major priorities. Several BRICS members have promoted the greater use of national currencies in bilateral trade, the development of cross-border payment mechanisms, and the reduction of
Certainly. For an academic article on BRICS Summit 2026, I recommend using a combination of official BRICS documents, institutional sources, and recent international news sources. Below is a bibliography in APA 7th edition style.
References / Bibliography
References :
- BRICS Brazil. (2025). About the BRICS. Government of Brazil. BRICS: About the BRICS
- BRICS Brazil. (2025). Brazil announces Indonesia as full member of BRICS. Government of Brazil. BRICS: Indonesia becomes a full member of BRICS
- BRICS Brazil. (2025). BRICS 2025: Issue note on Brazil's BRICS presidency. Government of Brazil. BRICS 2025 Issue Note
- BRICS Brazil. (2025). Frequently asked questions about the BRICS. Government of Brazil. BRICS Frequently Asked Questions
- BRICS Brazil. (2025). Nine nations announced as BRICS partner countries. Government of Brazil. BRICS Partner Countries
- New Development Bank. (n.d.). About NDB. New Development Bank – About NDB
- New Development Bank. (n.d.). What we do. New Development Bank – What We Do
- Reuters. (2026, September 10). India hosts BRICS summit as Iran war tests bloc unity. Reuters. Reuters
- Reuters. (2026, September 12). BRICS adopts joint declaration, urges “maximum restraint” in Mideast. Reuters. Reuters
- Reuters. (2026, September 13). Xi pushes “Greater BRICS” economic ties to give bloc larger global role. Reuters. Reuters
- Reuters. (2026, September 11). China, India arranging meeting for Xi, Modi, China's foreign ministry says. Reuters. Reuters
Suggested In-Text Citations
- For the article, the references can be cited in the following form:
- BRICS as a Global South coordination forum: (BRICS Brazil, 2025)
- BRICS membership and expansion: (BRICS Brazil, 2025)
- Indonesia's accession to BRICS: (BRICS Brazil, 2025)
- BRICS partner-country mechanism: (BRICS Brazil, 2025)
- New Development Bank and sustainable development financing: (New Development Bank, n.d.)
- Geopolitical challenges surrounding the 2026 summit: (Reuters, 2026a)
- New Delhi Declaration and Middle East tensions: (Reuters, 2026b)
- AI and “Greater BRICS” initiatives: (Reuters, 2026c)
- India-China diplomatic engagement: (Reuters, 2026d)
Key Primary Sources
- For a stronger academic article, the most important references should be the official BRICS documents and declarations, supported by Reuters and other reputable international news organizations for contemporary developments. The official BRICS material establishes the institutional background, membership, objectives, and development of the grouping, while the 2026 reporting provides evidence concerning the New Delhi summit and its geopolitical context.
These references can also be converted into Harvard, MLA, Chicago, or IEEE style if your target journal has a specific citation requirement.
R. Tri Priyo Nugroho
POINT Consultant
