Full Breakdown
BRICS Summit 2026: India’s Diplomatic Balancing Act Amid Deepening Divides
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi
On September 12–13, 2026 the leaders of the 11-member BRICS bloc met in New Delhi. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited India for the first time in seven years, standing beside Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The summit produced a 45-page “New Delhi Declaration” calling for “maximum restraint” in the Middle East, condemning unilateral sanctions and urging reforms of global institutions. It was adopted unanimously despite sharp disagreements between Iran and the United Arab Emirates over the Iran-U.S./Israel war.
Background & Context
Founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, BRICS added South Africa in 2010 and expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, now representing roughly half the world’s population and about 40 % of global GDP. The bloc seeks a louder voice for emerging economies in the IMF, World Bank and UN Security Council. Recent U.S. tariffs and sanctions have revived interest in a coordinated alternative, a trend noted by Atlantic Council senior fellow Michael Kugelman.
Data & Statistics
- Bilateral trade between China and India hit a record $155.6 billion in 2025 (Chinese customs).
- India’s trade deficit with China exceeded $100 billion in 2025, with some reports citing a $112.16 billion shortfall in FY 2025/26.
- Trade among BRICS members grew from $84 billion in 2003 to $1.17 trillion in 2024 (India’s Commerce Ministry).
- The New Development Bank has approved 139 projects worth nearly $43 billion to date.
Official Statements & Responses
- Xi Jinping framed the summit as a platform for “open-source AI cooperation” and pledged a “BRICS AI Open Source Zone.”
- Modi emphasized that BRICS “is not against anyone” and urged the Global South to become a “rule-shaper” rather than a rule-follower.
Criticism & Opposition
The joint declaration was described as “watered-down.” Analyst Harsh V. Pant, vice president of the Observer Research Foundation, warned that the Gulf conflict would be the central fault line of the summit.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Trade figures are inconsistent: Chinese customs cite a $155.6 billion total trade volume for 2025, while Indian officials highlight a $100 billion deficit, and other sources mention a $112 billion shortfall. No single source reconciles these numbers, leaving the exact scale of the imbalance unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “the Gulf conflict is going to be the central fault line this time during the BRICS summit” — Harsh V. Pant, Observer Research Foundation
- “They are looking for ‘early and substantial harvest’ when it comes to the border issue,” — Pradeep Taneja, University of Melbourne
- “So much of what has galvanized the BRICS members and aspiring BRICS members [are] the policies of the Trump administration,” — Michael Kugelman, Atlantic Council
- “BRICS is a very heterogeneous institution,” — Rajan Kumar, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- “We have always been told that competition is a sacred cow, something that must not be touched,” — Vladimir Putin, President of Russia
- “One should engage in debate and friendship only with the virtuous, and nothing whatsoever with the unvirtuous,” — Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India