Global leaders from major emerging economies, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, have arrived in New Delhi, India for the 18th BRICS Summit held at Bharat Mandapam on September 12 and 13, 2026.
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- Global leaders from the expanded BRICS group, now including 11 member states, convened in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit.
- The summit occurs amid ongoing international conflicts and economic initiatives aimed at transforming global trade cooperation.
- Indian Prime Minister Modi held bilateral talks with Russian President Putin and Iranian President Pezeshkian.
- Key issues at the summit include the shift to using national currencies in cross-border payments.
As India assumes the presidency of the group for the fourth time, the meeting brings together key international heads of state alongside representatives from recently joined member states.
The diplomatic gathering occurs against a backdrop of active international conflicts and major economic initiatives aimed at transforming global trade cooperation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ahead of the main sessions.
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China’s President Xi Jinping is also attending the summit, marking his first official visit to India in nearly seven years.
The expanded group now includes 11 full member nations following the inclusion of Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia.
Other key participants include South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
High-level discussions are heavily influenced by geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
During their bilateral session, Prime Minister Modi and President Putin reviewed ongoing security issues affecting international maritime trade.
According to an official statement from India’s foreign ministry the two leaders agreed “to remain engaged in an effort to strengthen further the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries”
Meanwhile, regional experts highlight how ongoing wars present complex friction points for the newly expanded bloc.
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Harsh V. Pant of India’s Observer Research Foundation told the AFP news agency that “the Gulf conflict is going to be the central fault line this time during the BRICS summit”.
A central focus of the 2026 summit involves expanding cross-border payment systems and promoting the use of national currencies in international trade.
Originally founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the BRICS coalition was designed to give major developing economies greater standing in international platforms historically led by Western powers.
Under India’s leadership, member nations are discussing new platforms for trade cooperation, supply chain resilience, and cross-border financial settlements.
These financial initiatives coincide with broader efforts by member countries to navigate international trade pressures and economic sanctions.
President Donald Trump announced new tariffs and some outright bans on Canadian goods.Kent NISHIMURA / AFP
As “discussions around increasing the use of national currencies in trade are likely to be received positively within the BRICS framework, these topics may not resonate well with the U.S., especially considering its economic sanctions on countries like Iran and Russia”
