Report by Swati
September 11, 2026
New Delhi, India
The world’s attention is turning to India as New Delhi hosts the 18th BRICS Summit, bringing together some of the most influential powers of the emerging global order.
Representing nearly half of the world’s population and around 40 per cent of global economic output measured by purchasing power parity, BRICS has evolved into a major platform for the Global South.
The summit, scheduled for September 12–13, comes at a time of deep geopolitical uncertainty, with wars, trade tensions, energy disruptions and growing competition among major powers reshaping international relations.
Modi, Putin and Xi: The Power Equation
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, placing India at the centre of a high-profile diplomatic gathering.
Xi Jinping’s visit is particularly significant as it marks his first visit to India in seven years. Modi and Xi are expected to discuss bilateral relations, economic engagement and regional stability, while Modi and Putin are also set to focus on trade, energy and strategic cooperation.
BRICS and the New World Order
Originally built around Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa later joining, BRICS has expanded significantly in recent years. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Indonesia are now members, giving the grouping a much wider geographical and economic footprint.
The bloc’s growing economic weight has strengthened calls for a more representative global financial and political system. Discussions around local-currency trade, cross-border payments, financial cooperation, technology, supply chains and reform of international institutions are increasingly important to the BRICS agenda.
Yet its growing influence also comes with internal challenges. Differences among members over geopolitical conflicts, economic priorities and the future role of BRICS make consensus difficult.
India’s Diplomatic Moment
For India, the summit is more than a diplomatic gathering. It is an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to bring competing powers to the same table while maintaining strategic partnerships with Russia, China, the United States and other major economies.
As the world searches for a more balanced and multipolar international system, New Delhi is emerging as one of the key stages where the future shape of global diplomacy could be debated.
BRICS 2026 is therefore not simply a summit—it is a powerful display of the changing balance of global power.
