Full Breakdown
India Hosts the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit
9/10/2026, 4:48:28 AM
Core Event
The 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit will be held on September 12-13, 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. India, which assumed the BRICS chair on January 1, 2026, will host the eleven full members—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—alongside partner states and invited countries. Expected heads of state include President Vladimir Putin (Russia), President Xi Jinping (China), President Masoud Pezeshkian (Iran), President Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi (India).
Background & Context
BRICS was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China; South Africa joined in 2010. Since 2024 the bloc has added Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, bringing membership to eleven. In 2025 ten additional nations were granted partner-country status. India’s fourth chairmanship coincides with the bloc’s 20-year anniversary and a shift toward “people-centred development” and reform of multilateral institutions.
Data & Statistics
- The eleven members together account for roughly 40 % of global GDP and about half the world’s population (? 49.5 %).
- The New Development Bank reported that 43.5 % of its 2024 approvals were denominated in member-country currencies, mainly the South African rand and Chinese yuan.
- Bilateral trade between India and China reached $151.1 billion in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
- Approximately 25,000 security personnel have been deployed in Delhi for the summit, and luxury-hotel rates have surged above INR2 lakh per night.
Official Statements & Responses
Karthik Nachiappan, senior fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, warned that “turning BRICS into a show or spectacle would send a signal that India doesn’t want to send now,” emphasizing a low-profile approach. Russian Deputy Chief of Staff Maksim Oreshkin said the group should shift “from extensive to intensive development” and focus on delivering “practical results for many countries.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Saudi Arabia’s status within BRICS remains ambiguous in official listings, with some sources describing it as a member and others as a partner. While the agenda is expected to cover trade, finance and governance reform, precise outcomes—such as a consensus on de-dollarisation—have not been detailed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The participation of China's top leadership is crucial,” — Papa.
- “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, MIT.
- “The next stage is to move from extensive to intensive development. The more significant initiatives that already exist should begin to deliver practical results for many countries. BRICS should become a platform that brings countries together in implementing these initiatives,” — Maksim Oreshkin.
- “Turning BRICS into a show or spectacle would send a signal that India doesn’t want to send now,” — Karthik Nachiappan.
What’s Next
- September 12-13, 2026 – Summit convenes at Bharat Mandapam.
- September 9, 2026 – President Cyril Ramaphosa’s attendance scheduled.
- September 10-13, 2026 – Delhi police traffic advisory issued.
- Post-summit – Member states are expected to negotiate a preferential trade agreement between India and the Southern African Customs Union, with talks targeted to conclude within a year.
