18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi: Key Agenda, Member Nations, and Global Focus Explained

India is preparing to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, bringing together top leaders from member nations for multilateral discussions. Expected attendees include Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. As the host nation, India has conducted several ministerial sessions and working group discussions leading up to the main leadership gathering.

What Happened

India assumed the role of Chair for the 11-member BRICS bloc on January 1, 2026, and will transfer the presidency to China at the end of the year. The primary leadership summit is set to take place in the national capital on September 12 and 13. This marks the fourth time India has taken on the presidency, having previously held the position in 2012, 2016, and 2021.

Ahead of the summit, host representatives organised multiple working group and ministerial meetings focused on shared priorities. These discussions covered areas such as the space economy, disaster resilience, agriculture, labor, culture, and women’s empowerment. Additionally, participating delegates adopted the Guwahati Declaration, committing to collective action against illicit drug trafficking.

Key Highlights

• The summit takes place on September 12 and 13 in New Delhi under India’s chairmanship.
• BRICS comprises 11 full member countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.
• There are 10 official partner nations: Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
• The theme for this year’s summit is ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’.
• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted core priorities including supply chain strengthening, market diversification, climate-resilient infrastructure, agriculture, health, innovation, and clean energy.

Why This Matters

BRICS countries collectively account for at least 50% of the world’s population. As emerging economies, their summit deliberations carry weight in global trade and serve as an important platform for addressing Global South concerns. However, the summit occurs alongside significant geopolitical tensions, including ongoing wars in Iran and Ukraine that have disrupted global stability.

India faces the task of managing divergent positions within the grouping while balancing its standing in other multilateral bodies such as the G20 and the Quad. While BRICS members may support expanding the use of national currencies in international trade, such measures are unlikely to be viewed favorably by the United States, which maintains economic sanctions against Iran and Russia. Internal diplomacy within the grouping also presents hurdles; for example, delegates from Iran and the UAE clashed over war-related issues during a meeting of Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys in April.

What to Watch Next

Attending leaders are expected to issue a joint summit declaration outlining unified positions on development, economic cooperation, security, and global governance. Further announcements may cover new initiatives regarding trade, energy connections, and climate action. Following the conclusion of the event and the end of the term, India will hand over the BRICS presidency to China.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the 18th BRICS Summit take place?

The summit is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.

Which nations are currently full members of BRICS?

The 11 full members are Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.

How many times has India chaired the BRICS group?

Including the current 2026 presidency, India has held the chair position four times, with previous terms in 2012, 2016, and 2021.

Source: Based on reporting from The Hindu published on August 05, 2026.