New Delhi Declaration, economic cooperation, technology, peace and a changing global order dominate the 18th BRICS Summit
NEW DELHI, September 14, 2026 — The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi has concluded with a message that the global economic and political landscape is undergoing a profound transformation.
Held on September 12 and 13 under India’s chairship, the summit brought together leaders of the expanded BRICS grouping at a moment marked by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, supply-chain disruptions, conflicts and growing demands from developing countries for a greater voice in global decision-making.
The meeting produced the New Delhi Declaration, a wide-ranging document covering international governance, economic cooperation, technology, trade, finance, climate change, health, agriculture, energy and people-to-people relations.
For India, the summit was also an opportunity to demonstrate that BRICS can move beyond being viewed simply as a political grouping and become a practical platform for cooperation among emerging and developing economies.
BRICS Has Changed Dramatically Since Its Beginning
BRICS began as a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India and China before South Africa joined, transforming the original BRIC concept into BRICS.
Two decades later, the organisation has become considerably larger.
The 2026 BRICS membership comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. The expansion has increased the geographic, economic and political diversity of the organisation.
According to India’s Press Information Bureau, the 11-member grouping represents approximately 49.5 percent of the world’s population, 40 percent of global GDP and 26 percent of global trade.
These figures explain why BRICS is increasingly important to discussions about the future of the global economy.
But size alone does not guarantee influence.
The larger BRICS becomes, the more difficult it can also become to maintain a common position on wars, security issues, trade policies and international disputes.
That tension was particularly visible at the 2026 summit.
India’s BRICS 2026 Presidency
India assumed the BRICS chairship on January 1, 2026, for the fourth time.
Its presidency was built around the theme:
“Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
The theme reflected an attempt to connect geopolitics with issues that directly affect ordinary people: economic stability, food security, health, technology, climate resilience, employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
India also emphasised a people-centred approach described through the principle of “Humanity First.”
Throughout the year, India hosted hundreds of meetings and engagements across different parts of the country. The official account of the presidency says that more than 350 meetings and high-level engagements were organised across more than 25 cities before the summit.
The New Delhi Declaration subsequently referred to more than 400 meetings and engagements across 30 cities under the broader BRICS cooperation framework.
The New Delhi Declaration
The most important political outcome of the summit was the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration.
The declaration reaffirmed BRICS principles including sovereign equality, mutual respect, solidarity, inclusiveness, cooperation and consensus.
It also called for stronger cooperation among the expanded membership through three broad pillars: political and security cooperation, economic and financial cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
One of the larger ambitions behind the declaration is the reform of global governance.
BRICS members argued that international institutions should become more representative and responsive to the changing distribution of economic and political influence.
For developing countries, this question is particularly important.
Many countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America believe that institutions created in an earlier era do not fully reflect today’s economic realities.
BRICS wants to become one of the platforms through which that demand is expressed.
A More Multipolar World
The word “multipolar” has become increasingly important in discussions surrounding BRICS.
The basic idea is that global power should not be concentrated in one country or one geopolitical centre.
Instead, several major economic and political centres would participate in shaping international decisions.
For BRICS countries, this does not necessarily mean replacing the existing international system.
Rather, the grouping is seeking greater representation within that system.
The New Delhi Declaration called for a more representative and reformed multilateral system and reaffirmed the group’s interest in strengthening the voice of emerging markets and developing countries.
This could become one of the most important long-term consequences of BRICS expansion.
Trade in Local Currencies and Financial Cooperation
Economic cooperation remains at the heart of BRICS.
One major area of discussion has been the possibility of increasing trade using national currencies and developing more efficient cross-border payment arrangements.
The objective is not simply financial independence from Western currencies.
For many members, the practical motivation is to reduce transaction costs, improve payment efficiency and make international trade less vulnerable to financial disruptions.
However, creating a completely new global currency or replacing the US dollar is a far more complicated proposition.
Differences among BRICS economies, financial systems, exchange-rate policies and monetary priorities remain substantial.
Therefore, the more realistic near-term development may be gradual expansion of local-currency settlement and payment connectivity rather than an immediate alternative global currency.
Technology and Artificial Intelligence
Technology emerged as another major area of BRICS cooperation.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming an economic, security and social issue rather than merely a technology-sector subject.
India has sought greater international cooperation around responsible technological development, while BRICS discussions have increasingly focused on digital transformation, innovation and technology access.
China’s President Xi Jinping also promoted greater BRICS economic cooperation in areas including artificial intelligence, trade and finance during the 2026 summit. Reuters reported that China proposed initiatives including a BRICS AI Open Source Zone and a future service-trade forum.
The broader question is whether emerging economies can participate in shaping the rules of the AI era instead of merely becoming consumers of technologies developed elsewhere.
That could become a defining BRICS issue over the next decade.
Critical Minerals and Supply Chains
The global economy is increasingly dependent on critical minerals required for batteries, renewable energy, electronics, electric vehicles and advanced technologies.
This has created a new form of geopolitical competition.
At the New Delhi summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned against the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals and highlighted the dangers created by vulnerable supply chains.
For BRICS countries, cooperation in this area could have major economic consequences.
Several member countries possess important natural resources, industrial capabilities or large consumer markets.
If they can build reliable supply chains among themselves, BRICS could become more influential in industries associated with the energy transition and advanced technology.
Health Security
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that health emergencies can rapidly become global economic and security crises.
BRICS therefore continues to place health cooperation on its agenda.
India announced work towards a BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for infectious diseases, designed to improve preparedness for future health threats.
The initiative reflects a broader change in thinking.
Pandemic preparedness is no longer simply a matter for hospitals and health ministries. It also involves data, logistics, pharmaceutical production, technology, supply chains and international cooperation.
Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Resilience
Food security is another area where BRICS cooperation could have a direct effect on ordinary citizens.
India’s 2026 presidency promoted cooperation in agro-ecology, digital agriculture and agricultural research.
The official Indian BRICS backgrounder says members agreed to develop BRICS Centres of Excellence on Agro-Ecology and a BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture, including cooperation involving artificial intelligence, geospatial intelligence, Internet-of-Things monitoring and advanced data analytics.
These initiatives are particularly significant because climate change is making agricultural production increasingly unpredictable.
Technology that helps farmers monitor crops, water, weather and soil conditions could become an important component of future food-security strategies.
BRICS and the Middle East Crisis
The 2026 summit took place against a difficult geopolitical background.
The ongoing conflict involving Iran and the United States and Israel created a particularly sensitive situation for BRICS because Iran is a member while the UAE and other regional states have different strategic relationships and interests.
The conflict therefore tested the organisation’s ability to maintain consensus.
Reuters reported before the summit that tensions surrounding the Iran conflict were placing pressure on BRICS unity.
Yet the summit ultimately produced a joint declaration.
This illustrates one of BRICS’ central characteristics: its members do not share identical foreign-policy positions.
BRICS is therefore better understood as a coalition of countries seeking cooperation in selected areas rather than a military alliance or a completely unified geopolitical bloc.
The China-India Relationship
The presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping in New Delhi attracted particular international attention.
For India and China, cooperation and competition exist simultaneously.
The two countries have major economic relationships but also unresolved strategic and border concerns.
The BRICS platform creates a diplomatic environment in which both countries can cooperate on selected international issues without eliminating their bilateral differences.
That makes BRICS particularly significant for the wider Global South.
If major countries with different strategic interests can still cooperate on development, health, trade, climate and technology, the organisation could develop into a useful model of issue-based multilateralism.
The Russia Factor
Russia remains one of the founding members and an important political force within BRICS.
The organisation has provided Moscow with an important diplomatic platform at a time when its relations with many Western countries remain severely strained.
However, BRICS members have different positions regarding the Russia-Ukraine war.
This again demonstrates the limits of describing BRICS as a single geopolitical camp.
The organisation can provide space for dialogue without necessarily producing complete agreement on every international crisis.
BRICS and the Global South
Perhaps the most important political message from New Delhi is the continued emphasis on the Global South.
For developing nations, the central question is not simply whether BRICS can challenge Western powers.
The larger question is whether the international system can become more representative.
Developing countries face common challenges involving debt, energy prices, climate change, food security, technology access, infrastructure and employment.
A stronger BRICS could provide additional channels through which these concerns are discussed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during the summit’s outreach discussions that trust in BRICS among Global South countries was growing because their voices were increasingly being included in decision-making.
India’s Practical Agenda
India’s approach to BRICS 2026 was notable for its emphasis on practical initiatives.
Among the areas highlighted during the presidency were health security, agriculture, digital technologies, energy storage, green tourism, water management, startups, MSMEs and supply-chain cooperation.
India also promoted initiatives involving women, youth, innovation and entrepreneurship.
This approach suggests that New Delhi wants BRICS to be judged not only by summit declarations but also by whether cooperation produces tangible benefits.
That may ultimately be the most important test for the organisation.
The Big Challenge: Can BRICS Stay United?
BRICS has enormous potential, but it also faces serious limitations.
Its members differ in political systems, economic structures, foreign-policy priorities and strategic interests.
China and India have their own competition.
Russia has a very different relationship with Western powers from that of several other members.
Middle Eastern members have different security calculations.
Brazil and South Africa have their own regional priorities.
As membership expands, achieving consensus on increasingly complicated international issues may become harder.
The organisation therefore faces a fundamental choice.
It can attempt to become a tightly coordinated geopolitical bloc, or it can remain a flexible platform where countries cooperate where their interests overlap.
The second model may prove more realistic.
What BRICS 2026 Means for the World
The New Delhi summit should not be judged solely by whether it immediately changes the existing global order.
Its significance is more gradual.
BRICS is building institutions, networks, financial mechanisms, business relationships, technology partnerships and diplomatic channels among countries that together represent a huge share of the world’s population.
That process could gradually reshape international economic relations.
The expansion of BRICS also means that decisions made within the organisation increasingly matter beyond its members.
Energy markets, food security, technology, supply chains, investment and international diplomacy are all interconnected.
What Comes Next?
India has now completed its 2026 chairship and China will take over the BRICS chairship in 2027.
The New Delhi Declaration formally expressed support for China to host the next BRICS summit.
The transition creates an interesting question.
Can China build on India’s emphasis on resilience, innovation and practical cooperation while giving BRICS a stronger economic and technological identity?
The answer will become clearer over the next year.
A New Chapter, Not a Finished Project
BRICS 2026 should not be interpreted as the creation of a new world government, an alternative military alliance or an immediate replacement for the existing international financial system.
It is something more complex.
It is an evolving platform where countries with different interests are attempting to find common ground.
The success of BRICS will ultimately depend less on the number of countries inside the organisation and more on what those countries are able to accomplish together.
If BRICS can convert declarations into functioning cooperation in technology, health, agriculture, finance, trade, climate resilience and human development, its influence could grow considerably.
If internal disagreements repeatedly prevent action, its enormous economic and demographic weight may not translate into comparable political influence.
The New Delhi Summit therefore marks neither the beginning nor the end of BRICS.
It represents another stage in a long transformation of the international system.
And perhaps the most important question emerging from New Delhi is not whether BRICS will replace the existing world order.
It is whether BRICS can help build a more representative, cooperative and balanced global order in which emerging and developing nations have a stronger voice in decisions that affect humanity as a whole.
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New Delhi Declaration, economic cooperation, technology, peace and a changing global order dominate the 18th BRICS Summit
NEW DELHI, September 14, 2026 — The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi has concluded with a message that the global economic and political landscape is undergoing a profound transformation.
Held on September 12 and 13 under India’s chairship, the summit brought together leaders of the expanded BRICS grouping at a moment marked by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, supply-chain disruptions, conflicts and growing demands from developing countries for a greater voice in global decision-making.
The meeting produced the New Delhi Declaration, a wide-ranging document covering international governance, economic cooperation, technology, trade, finance, climate change, health, agriculture, energy and people-to-people relations.
For India, the summit was also an opportunity to demonstrate that BRICS can move beyond being viewed simply as a political grouping and become a practical platform for cooperation among emerging and developing economies.
BRICS Has Changed Dramatically Since Its Beginning
BRICS began as a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India and China before South Africa joined, transforming the original BRIC concept into BRICS.
Two decades later, the organisation has become considerably larger.
The 2026 BRICS membership comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. The expansion has increased the geographic, economic and political diversity of the organisation.
According to India’s Press Information Bureau, the 11-member grouping represents approximately 49.5 percent of the world’s population, 40 percent of global GDP and 26 percent of global trade.
These figures explain why BRICS is increasingly important to discussions about the future of the global economy.
But size alone does not guarantee influence.
The larger BRICS becomes, the more difficult it can also become to maintain a common position on wars, security issues, trade policies and international disputes.
That tension was particularly visible at the 2026 summit.
India’s BRICS 2026 Presidency
India assumed the BRICS chairship on January 1, 2026, for the fourth time.
Its presidency was built around the theme:
“Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
The theme reflected an attempt to connect geopolitics with issues that directly affect ordinary people: economic stability, food security, health, technology, climate resilience, employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
India also emphasised a people-centred approach described through the principle of “Humanity First.”
Throughout the year, India hosted hundreds of meetings and engagements across different parts of the country. The official account of the presidency says that more than 350 meetings and high-level engagements were organised across more than 25 cities before the summit.
The New Delhi Declaration subsequently referred to more than 400 meetings and engagements across 30 cities under the broader BRICS cooperation framework.
The New Delhi Declaration
The most important political outcome of the summit was the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration.
The declaration reaffirmed BRICS principles including sovereign equality, mutual respect, solidarity, inclusiveness, cooperation and consensus.
It also called for stronger cooperation among the expanded membership through three broad pillars: political and security cooperation, economic and financial cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
One of the larger ambitions behind the declaration is the reform of global governance.
BRICS members argued that international institutions should become more representative and responsive to the changing distribution of economic and political influence.
For developing countries, this question is particularly important.
Many countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America believe that institutions created in an earlier era do not fully reflect today’s economic realities.
BRICS wants to become one of the platforms through which that demand is expressed.
A More Multipolar World
The word “multipolar” has become increasingly important in discussions surrounding BRICS.
The basic idea is that global power should not be concentrated in one country or one geopolitical centre.
Instead, several major economic and political centres would participate in shaping international decisions.
For BRICS countries, this does not necessarily mean replacing the existing international system.
Rather, the grouping is seeking greater representation within that system.
The New Delhi Declaration called for a more representative and reformed multilateral system and reaffirmed the group’s interest in strengthening the voice of emerging markets and developing countries.
This could become one of the most important long-term consequences of BRICS expansion.
Trade in Local Currencies and Financial Cooperation
Economic cooperation remains at the heart of BRICS.
One major area of discussion has been the possibility of increasing trade using national currencies and developing more efficient cross-border payment arrangements.
The objective is not simply financial independence from Western currencies.
For many members, the practical motivation is to reduce transaction costs, improve payment efficiency and make international trade less vulnerable to financial disruptions.
However, creating a completely new global currency or replacing the US dollar is a far more complicated proposition.
Differences among BRICS economies, financial systems, exchange-rate policies and monetary priorities remain substantial.
Therefore, the more realistic near-term development may be gradual expansion of local-currency settlement and payment connectivity rather than an immediate alternative global currency.
Technology and Artificial Intelligence
Technology emerged as another major area of BRICS cooperation.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming an economic, security and social issue rather than merely a technology-sector subject.
India has sought greater international cooperation around responsible technological development, while BRICS discussions have increasingly focused on digital transformation, innovation and technology access.
China’s President Xi Jinping also promoted greater BRICS economic cooperation in areas including artificial intelligence, trade and finance during the 2026 summit. Reuters reported that China proposed initiatives including a BRICS AI Open Source Zone and a future service-trade forum.
The broader question is whether emerging economies can participate in shaping the rules of the AI era instead of merely becoming consumers of technologies developed elsewhere.
That could become a defining BRICS issue over the next decade.
Critical Minerals and Supply Chains
The global economy is increasingly dependent on critical minerals required for batteries, renewable energy, electronics, electric vehicles and advanced technologies.
This has created a new form of geopolitical competition.
At the New Delhi summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned against the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals and highlighted the dangers created by vulnerable supply chains.
For BRICS countries, cooperation in this area could have major economic consequences.
Several member countries possess important natural resources, industrial capabilities or large consumer markets.
If they can build reliable supply chains among themselves, BRICS could become more influential in industries associated with the energy transition and advanced technology.
Health Security
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that health emergencies can rapidly become global economic and security crises.
BRICS therefore continues to place health cooperation on its agenda.
India announced work towards a BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for infectious diseases, designed to improve preparedness for future health threats.
The initiative reflects a broader change in thinking.
Pandemic preparedness is no longer simply a matter for hospitals and health ministries. It also involves data, logistics, pharmaceutical production, technology, supply chains and international cooperation.
Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Resilience
Food security is another area where BRICS cooperation could have a direct effect on ordinary citizens.
India’s 2026 presidency promoted cooperation in agro-ecology, digital agriculture and agricultural research.
The official Indian BRICS backgrounder says members agreed to develop BRICS Centres of Excellence on Agro-Ecology and a BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture, including cooperation involving artificial intelligence, geospatial intelligence, Internet-of-Things monitoring and advanced data analytics.
These initiatives are particularly significant because climate change is making agricultural production increasingly unpredictable.
Technology that helps farmers monitor crops, water, weather and soil conditions could become an important component of future food-security strategies.
BRICS and the Middle East Crisis
The 2026 summit took place against a difficult geopolitical background.
The ongoing conflict involving Iran and the United States and Israel created a particularly sensitive situation for BRICS because Iran is a member while the UAE and other regional states have different strategic relationships and interests.
The conflict therefore tested the organisation’s ability to maintain consensus.
Reuters reported before the summit that tensions surrounding the Iran conflict were placing pressure on BRICS unity.
Yet the summit ultimately produced a joint declaration.
This illustrates one of BRICS’ central characteristics: its members do not share identical foreign-policy positions.
BRICS is therefore better understood as a coalition of countries seeking cooperation in selected areas rather than a military alliance or a completely unified geopolitical bloc.
The China-India Relationship
The presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping in New Delhi attracted particular international attention.
For India and China, cooperation and competition exist simultaneously.
The two countries have major economic relationships but also unresolved strategic and border concerns.
The BRICS platform creates a diplomatic environment in which both countries can cooperate on selected international issues without eliminating their bilateral differences.
That makes BRICS particularly significant for the wider Global South.
If major countries with different strategic interests can still cooperate on development, health, trade, climate and technology, the organisation could develop into a useful model of issue-based multilateralism.
The Russia Factor
Russia remains one of the founding members and an important political force within BRICS.
The organisation has provided Moscow with an important diplomatic platform at a time when its relations with many Western countries remain severely strained.
However, BRICS members have different positions regarding the Russia-Ukraine war.
This again demonstrates the limits of describing BRICS as a single geopolitical camp.
The organisation can provide space for dialogue without necessarily producing complete agreement on every international crisis.
BRICS and the Global South
Perhaps the most important political message from New Delhi is the continued emphasis on the Global South.
For developing nations, the central question is not simply whether BRICS can challenge Western powers.
The larger question is whether the international system can become more representative.
Developing countries face common challenges involving debt, energy prices, climate change, food security, technology access, infrastructure and employment.
A stronger BRICS could provide additional channels through which these concerns are discussed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during the summit’s outreach discussions that trust in BRICS among Global South countries was growing because their voices were increasingly being included in decision-making.
India’s Practical Agenda
India’s approach to BRICS 2026 was notable for its emphasis on practical initiatives.
Among the areas highlighted during the presidency were health security, agriculture, digital technologies, energy storage, green tourism, water management, startups, MSMEs and supply-chain cooperation.
India also promoted initiatives involving women, youth, innovation and entrepreneurship.
This approach suggests that New Delhi wants BRICS to be judged not only by summit declarations but also by whether cooperation produces tangible benefits.
That may ultimately be the most important test for the organisation.
The Big Challenge: Can BRICS Stay United?
BRICS has enormous potential, but it also faces serious limitations.
Its members differ in political systems, economic structures, foreign-policy priorities and strategic interests.
China and India have their own competition.
Russia has a very different relationship with Western powers from that of several other members.
Middle Eastern members have different security calculations.
Brazil and South Africa have their own regional priorities.
As membership expands, achieving consensus on increasingly complicated international issues may become harder.
The organisation therefore faces a fundamental choice.
It can attempt to become a tightly coordinated geopolitical bloc, or it can remain a flexible platform where countries cooperate where their interests overlap.
The second model may prove more realistic.
What BRICS 2026 Means for the World
The New Delhi summit should not be judged solely by whether it immediately changes the existing global order.
Its significance is more gradual.
BRICS is building institutions, networks, financial mechanisms, business relationships, technology partnerships and diplomatic channels among countries that together represent a huge share of the world’s population.
That process could gradually reshape international economic relations.
The expansion of BRICS also means that decisions made within the organisation increasingly matter beyond its members.
Energy markets, food security, technology, supply chains, investment and international diplomacy are all interconnected.
What Comes Next?
India has now completed its 2026 chairship and China will take over the BRICS chairship in 2027.
The New Delhi Declaration formally expressed support for China to host the next BRICS summit.
The transition creates an interesting question.
Can China build on India’s emphasis on resilience, innovation and practical cooperation while giving BRICS a stronger economic and technological identity?
The answer will become clearer over the next year.
A New Chapter, Not a Finished Project
BRICS 2026 should not be interpreted as the creation of a new world government, an alternative military alliance or an immediate replacement for the existing international financial system.
It is something more complex.
It is an evolving platform where countries with different interests are attempting to find common ground.
The success of BRICS will ultimately depend less on the number of countries inside the organisation and more on what those countries are able to accomplish together.
If BRICS can convert declarations into functioning cooperation in technology, health, agriculture, finance, trade, climate resilience and human development, its influence could grow considerably.
If internal disagreements repeatedly prevent action, its enormous economic and demographic weight may not translate into comparable political influence.
The New Delhi Summit therefore marks neither the beginning nor the end of BRICS.
It represents another stage in a long transformation of the international system.
And perhaps the most important question emerging from New Delhi is not whether BRICS will replace the existing world order.
It is whether BRICS can help build a more representative, cooperative and balanced global order in which emerging and developing nations have a stronger voice in decisions that affect humanity as a whole.
Learn More about The Sumit from Indian Official Website
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