BRICS Summit 2026: India, the Global South and the Changing World Order

The global economic and geopolitical landscape is undergoing a significant transformation. As emerging economies seek a greater role in international institutions and global decision-making, BRICS has developed into an important platform for cooperation among countries of the Global South.

In 2026, India took over the BRICS Chairship and hosted the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi from 12–13 September 2026. The summit was conducted under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

The summit came at an important stage in the evolution of BRICS. What began as a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India and China has expanded considerably, with South Africa joining in 2011 and further expansion taking place from 2024 onward. BRICS now comprises Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

India’s BRICS Chairship

India's 2026 chairship placed considerable emphasis on four interconnected priorities: resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.

These priorities reflect some of the major challenges facing emerging economies. Countries are dealing with disruptions to supply chains, technological change, energy and food-security concerns, climate-related challenges and questions surrounding the future of international economic institutions.

India's chairship also sought to strengthen practical cooperation rather than limiting BRICS to political dialogue. The programme included meetings involving governments, businesses, parliamentarians, academics, diplomats and civil society.

The scale of India's programme illustrates this broader approach. The official 2026 BRICS work programme included a leaders' summit, ministerial meetings, meetings of senior officials and working groups, business and parliamentary engagements, forums and Track II initiatives.

A Larger BRICS

The expansion of BRICS has changed the character of the grouping.

The original BRIC countries represented four major emerging economies. The addition of South Africa created the BRICS format, while the later expansion brought countries from the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia into the grouping.

Indonesia became a full member in January 2025, while several other countries joined the BRICS partner-country framework.

This expansion has increased the geographic and economic diversity within BRICS.

At the same time, greater diversity can make consensus more complicated. Each member has its own economic priorities, foreign-policy interests and relationships with countries outside the grouping.

Consequently, BRICS is not a single political bloc in which every country necessarily takes the same position on every international issue. Instead, it provides a forum where countries with different interests can pursue cooperation in areas where their objectives overlap.

Economics at the Centre

Economic cooperation remains one of the central pillars of BRICS.

Trade, investment, infrastructure, development finance, financial cooperation and resilient supply chains have become increasingly important areas of discussion.

The New Development Bank (NDB), established by BRICS, represents one of the group's major institutional achievements. BRICS cooperation has also included the Contingent Reserve Arrangement, designed as a financial safety mechanism for member countries.

At the 2026 summit, BRICS leaders also highlighted business-to-business cooperation, resilient supply chains and initiatives designed to encourage innovation and sustainable development.

For businesses in emerging markets, the significance of BRICS therefore extends beyond diplomatic meetings. Greater cooperation can create opportunities for trade, investment, technology partnerships and connections between companies across member countries.

India, China and Russia

Three of the most prominent countries associated with BRICS are India, China and Russia.

India and China are both major economies with significant trade relationships and extensive regional and global interests. At the same time, their bilateral relationship includes areas of strategic competition and unresolved differences.

Russia remains a major BRICS member with significant energy, natural-resource and geopolitical importance.

The presence of these countries within the same institution demonstrates one of BRICS' defining characteristics: cooperation does not require identical national interests.

Diplomatic platforms can allow countries to cooperate in areas such as economics, development, technology and multilateral institutions while continuing to manage disagreements elsewhere.

During the 2026 summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held bilateral engagements with leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Global South and International Institutions

Another major theme surrounding BRICS is the question of representation in international institutions.

BRICS countries have repeatedly argued for a more representative international system and greater participation for developing and emerging economies in global decision-making.

The 2026 New Delhi Declaration reaffirmed the group's stated interest in strengthening multilateral cooperation and supporting a more representative international order.

This debate extends to institutions such as the United Nations and international financial institutions.

For developing countries, the question is not simply about creating new institutions. It is also about determining how existing institutions can adapt to changes in the distribution of global economic power.

Innovation and Technology

Technology has also become increasingly important to the BRICS agenda.

Artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, scientific cooperation and technological innovation can influence economic productivity and development across emerging markets.

India's emphasis on innovation during its 2026 chairship reflects the growing importance of technology to economic development.

For BRICS economies, the challenge is not only developing new technologies but also ensuring that emerging technologies contribute to broader economic participation and sustainable development.

Sustainability and Development

The final major component of India's 2026 theme was sustainability.

Many BRICS members are simultaneously dealing with rapid economic development, urbanisation, energy demand and environmental pressures.

This creates a complicated policy challenge: countries want faster economic growth while also dealing with climate change, resource constraints and the need for sustainable infrastructure.

Cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, agriculture, climate resilience, healthcare and sustainable infrastructure could therefore become increasingly relevant to the group's future agenda.

What Does BRICS Mean for the Future?

The evolution of BRICS reflects a broader change in the international system.

The group has moved from a relatively small grouping of emerging economies toward a much larger platform involving countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

However, its future influence will depend not simply on how many countries participate, but on what the members are able to accomplish together.

The key questions are practical:

• Can BRICS increase trade and investment among its members?

• Can its financial institutions support meaningful development projects?

• Can members cooperate on technology and innovation?

• Can the group strengthen supply-chain resilience?

• Can countries with different geopolitical interests maintain effective cooperation?

• Can BRICS provide a stronger voice for emerging and developing economies in international institutions?

These questions will shape the next phase of BRICS.

Conclusion

The BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi demonstrated the growing importance of emerging economies in international affairs.

India's chairship placed resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability at the centre of the group's agenda, while the expanded membership gave BRICS a broader geographic and economic reach.

BRICS is not a substitute for every existing international institution, nor is it a group whose members share identical interests. Its significance lies in providing a platform where diverse emerging economies can cooperate on areas of common interest and advocate for greater representation in global governance.

As the international system continues to evolve, the effectiveness of BRICS will ultimately depend on whether diplomatic declarations can be translated into trade, investment, technological cooperation, development and tangible outcomes for its member countries and their people.

India's 2026 chairship has therefore marked another important chapter in the continuing evolution of BRICS.

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