Leaders of the BRICS bloc convened in New Delhi on Saturday, September 12, 2026, for a high-stakes summit focused on trade and global conflicts. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and counterparts from the other eight BRICS members as escalating international wars and trade pressures test the economic alliance’s unity.
Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed around the summit venue and other parts of New Delhi, with traffic restrictions and diversions in place as foreign dignitaries arrived.
Trade, Currencies, and the Push Away From the U.S. Dollar
Economic cooperation, energy, food security, technology, supply chains and reforms to global institutions dominated the opening discussions. Reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar will also be a priority, with members promoting greater use of their own currencies in trade and payments, as well as pushing for alternatives to Western-dominated financial institutions.
China and Russia see BRICS as a way to reduce Western dominance, particularly that of the United States, while strengthening cooperation among emerging and developing economies.
Putin, in a speech at the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi on Friday, said the grouping was not against anyone and Moscow was open to cooperation with countries around the world.
“We are in favor of our interests,” he said.
Iran has also pushed for mechanisms that could reduce the bloc’s reliance on Western financial systems and shield members from economic pressure, as Tehran faces sweeping sanctions and a U.S. blockade. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian backed expanding trade in national currencies among BRICS members.
“One of the most important steps is to expand the use of national currencies in trade among the members,” he told reporters on Friday.
Geopolitical Pressures and Regional Conflict Divisions
The summit comes as wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, along with rising U.S.-China tensions, test the bloc’s ability to find common ground among countries with competing geopolitical interests. The summit convenes as fears grow that the Iran war, triggered by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, may expand amid escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Those divisions were evident in May, when BRICS foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement over the Iran war, forcing India to issue a chair’s summary instead.
China, meanwhile, is leveraging the grouping to deepen its influence within the bloc and position it as a counterweight to U.S. power. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Friday that Xi was expected to discuss major international issues and ways to deepen cooperation among BRICS members.
India Balances Strategic Ties Across Competing Powers
For India, the summit highlights its effort to maintain strategic ties with Russia and Iran while deepening relations with the U.S. and Europe. New Delhi has sought to balance its longstanding partnerships with Moscow and Tehran with efforts to expand economic, defense and technology ties with Washington and other Western nations.
India has maintained close ties with both Moscow and Tehran despite the war in Ukraine and tensions between Iran and the U.S., while calling for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflicts. Modi met Putin and Pezeshkian separately in New Delhi on Friday ahead of the summit.
India is also hoping the forum will help ease its longstanding strained ties with China. Modi and Xi are expected to hold talks later Saturday, a meeting that could help consolidate a diplomatic thaw between the two countries after border tensions escalated in 2020. A key test for India will be whether it can secure a joint statement from leaders at the summit.
Institutional Reform and the Expanding Global South
BRICS was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. It has since expanded to 11 members, representing about half the world’s population and a significant share of global economic output. The group has increasingly called for greater representation for developing countries in global institutions.
The outcome of the New Delhi talks will determine whether the expanded bloc can translate its demographic weight into unified multilateral policy as leaders seek a bigger role in shaping the global agenda for emerging and developing countries.
