Leaders from the expanded BRICS group have gathered in New Delhi for a summit centred on trade, development finance and a strained global security outlook.
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12–13 under its 2026 chairship. The Indian government says the programme includes meetings alongside an innovation exposition in New Delhi, while leaders are expected to discuss economic cooperation and reform of international institutions.
Why the summit matters
BRICS has grown beyond its original five members and now brings together countries with different strategic interests. That makes common positions difficult, but it also increases the group’s influence in debates about trade settlement, development lending, food security and energy security.
Associated Press reported that leaders are discussing greater use of national currencies in trade and are meeting against the backdrop of wars and wider geopolitical tensions. Any proposals still require agreement among members, so the summit should not be treated as an automatic move away from the dollar.
What to watch
- Whether the summit communiqué contains concrete steps on cross-border payments or development finance.
- How leaders address conflicts that divide member countries.
- Whether India can turn its chairship into practical cooperation rather than broad declarations.
Featured image: India Gate, New Delhi, by David Castor (dcastor), public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Used illustratively; it does not depict the summit.
