Full Breakdown
India Hosts the 18th BRICS Summit Amid Expanded Membership and Geopolitical Tensions
9/9/2026, 11:16:04 AM
Core Event: Leaders Gather in New Delhi
The 18th BRICS summit will be held on September 12-13, 2026 at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre in New Delhi. The meeting brings together the eleven member states—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—plus designated partner countries and invited guests.
Background & Context
India assumed the pro tempore presidency for the fourth time, following earlier turns in 2012, 2016 and 2021. The bloc has grown from the original five founders to eleven members after admitting Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia and the UAE between 2024-2025. The expansion has introduced more autocratic regimes and several bilateral disputes, complicating consensus-building. India’s host role contrasts with the 2024 summit in Brazil, where Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were absent.
Data & Statistics
- Analysts at Asia Times calculate that the eleven members represent roughly 40 % of global GDP and nearly half of the world’s population.
- By purchasing-power-parity, the six Asian members (China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE) account for about 83 % of BRICS’ GDP.
- Indian government statistics reported that bilateral trade between India and China reached $151.1 billion in fiscal year 2025-2026.
- The New Development Bank has funded more than 100 projects across the bloc, totalling around US$45 billion.
Official Statements & Responses
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi described BRICS as a “people-centric” forum for the Global South and emphasized a “humanity-first” approach, noting that India will not pursue an “anti-Western” line.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed his attendance and said the summit will focus on trade, investment, financial cooperation and United Nations reform.
- Iran’s foreign-ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei highlighted the strategic importance of the summit for Tehran and reiterated Iran’s commitment to multilateral arrangements such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Why It Matters / Impact
The summit tests India’s ability to act as a bridge-builder between competing camps. Coordination on trade, monetary cooperation and agriculture could reinforce BRICS as a platform for Global South development, especially as the bloc seeks reforms of IMF and World Bank quota systems. Energy security, digital finance and AI governance are emerging priority tracks, reflecting the growing “Asianization” of BRICS agendas. Outcomes will influence de-dollarisation efforts, supply-chain resilience and the broader balance of power between the United States, China and Russia.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Chinese President Xi Jinping’s attendance is “widely expected” but has not been formally confirmed, leaving uncertainty about the summit’s diplomatic weight.
- Saudi Arabia’s status remains “somewhat ambiguous” in official BRICS materials, despite being listed as a member by several sources.
Verbatim Quotes
- “In terms of concrete outcomes and what is achievable, I think it's going to be very, very limited,” — Singh.
- “India adds clout because it has significant geopolitical weight and relationships across competing camps, making it an important bridge-builder,” — Mihaela Papa, director of the BRICS Lab at MIT.
