Full Breakdown
India Hosts the 18th BRICS Summit: Bilateral Outreach and the New Delhi Declaration
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Summit Proceedings and Bilateral Meetings
On September 12-13 2026, New Delhi hosted the 18th BRICS Summit under India’s chairmanship. Leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and several partner countries met while Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired sessions on “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth.” The summit concluded with the New Delhi Declaration, calling for a more representative global order, expanded intra-BRICS trade in national currencies, and expressing concern over attacks on civilian infrastructure in West Asia.
Background & Context – India’s BRICS Chairmanship
India assumed the BRICS chair in 2026, using the summit to advance trade, technology and multilateral cooperation for the Global South.
Timeline of Key Activities
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sep 12 2026 | Modi met UAE’s Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan. |
| Sep 13 2026 | Modi met South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and reviewed the strategic partnership. |
| Sep 13 2026 | Modi held bilateral talks with leaders from Burundi, Nigeria, Kazakhstan and the Philippines. |
| Sep 12-13 2026 | BRICS leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration. |
Data & Statistics – Scope of Diplomatic Engagement
- Over 400 bilateral and multilateral meetings were reported across 30 Indian cities in the year leading up to the summit.
- The India-South Africa local-currency payment system was tested in real time, confirming seamless conversion of rupees to rand.
Official Statements & Responses
- The declaration urged “maximum restraint” in the West Asian conflict, condemned unilateral coercive measures, and called for UN reform, including expanded Security Council representation for Brazil and India.
- Indian Sherpa Sudhakar Dalela highlighted the intensive negotiations that produced consensus language on the West Asian war.
Verbatim Quotes
- “BRICS is poised to enter its third decade. The world now expects concrete results from us, not just ideas and commitments. I am confident that through our collective efforts, we will certainly live up to these expectations,” — Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India
- “As the host, New Delhi has a delicate balancing act,” — Um-e-Kulsoom Shariff, Al Jazeera
- “In preparation of the BRICS summit, we have been discussing the Middle East situation (West Asia) for some time. In a grouping where members have diverse experiences, it is important to allow members to have a shared forum, and within that framework to build consensus,” — Sudhakar Dalela, Indian Sherpa
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise wording regarding the West Asian conflict, but agree the declaration avoided naming parties, reflecting a diplomatic compromise.
What’s Next – Follow-Up Initiatives
- India will convene a “BRICS Plus” outreach session inviting leaders from Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Vietnam and Kazakhstan to discuss broader Global South cooperation.
- President Ramaphosa was invited to consider joining the International Big Cat Alliance, building on recent cheetah translocations between South Africa and India.
The summit’s outcomes underscore India’s role in steering BRICS toward deeper economic integration, multilateral consensus on contentious geopolitical issues, and expanded South-South collaboration.