Full Breakdown
BRICS 2026 Summit in New Delhi: Declarations, Divisions, and India’s Leadership
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 12-13 2026, leaders of the 11-member BRICS grouping met at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi for the 18th summit. The two-day meeting concluded with the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration 2026, calling for “maximum restraint” in the Middle East and urging “dialogue, consultation and diplomacy” to resolve disputes. The statement avoided naming specific states while condemning unilateral tariffs and sanctions that breach international law.
Background & Context
Founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, BRICS expanded to include South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, representing roughly 40 % of global GDP and about half the world’s population. The bloc seeks greater influence for developing nations in institutions such as the World Bank, IMF and WTO. The 2026 summit took place amid the US-Israel war on Iran, Russia’s conflict in Ukraine and renewed fighting in Gaza, testing the expanded bloc’s ability to present a common stance.
Data & Statistics
- Members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia.
- Share of global GDP: ~40 %.
- Share of world population: ~50 %.
Official Statements & Responses
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi framed BRICS as “not against anyone” and urged the Global South to become a “rule-shaper” rather than a “rule-taker.” Chinese President Xi Jinping called the Middle-East war contrary to common interests and advocated a political settlement and permanent ceasefire. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned “unlawful” unilateral sanctions and offered BRICS support for Ukraine peace talks. The declaration also voiced “firm opposition” to the forced displacement of Palestinians and called for humanitarian access to Gaza and full UN membership for a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders.
On-the-Ground Reports
Modi welcomed the delegation on September 12 2026 against the backdrop of Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathaswamy temple and later shared a light-hearted moment with Presidents Xi and Putin during a gala dinner. On the first day, leaders planted ten banyan-tree saplings at the venue, symbolising growth and cooperation.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on India’s oil imports from Russia during the summit period, leaving the extent of India’s reliance on Russian energy amid the US-Israel-Iran conflict unclear.
Verbatim Quote
- “We have to transform this pyramid of privilege into a platform of partnership,” — Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India
What’s Next
The New Delhi Declaration commits BRICS members to develop an integrated early-warning system for infectious diseases, guidelines for disaster-management data integration, and a logistics supply-chain cooperation framework to enhance resilience. Under India’s chairmanship, the bloc plans to launch a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund, an Incubator Network and a Digital Agriculture Network to connect startups, farmers and researchers across member states. These initiatives aim to translate the summit’s four-pillar agenda—resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability—into concrete, cross-border projects.
