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The 18th BRICS Summit began in New Delhi on Saturday, bringing together leaders and representatives of the expanded grouping of major emerging economies amid heightened geopolitical tensions and disruptions to global trade and energy markets.
The two-day summit is being held at Bharat Mandapam on September 12–13, with India hosting the event as BRICS chair for 2026. This year’s theme is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Leaders attending the summit include Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, among others.
The summit is expected to focus on strengthening multilateralism, reforming global governance institutions, trade and investment, energy and food security, technology and sustainable development.
Regional conflicts, including the wars involving Iran and Ukraine, are also expected to feature prominently in discussions.
The expanded BRICS now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Indonesia, while Saudi Arabia has been invited but has not formally joined.
The grouping represents more than 40 per cent of the world’s population and around a quarter of the global economy.
A New Delhi Declaration is expected at the conclusion of the summit on Sunday.
