The 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi, themed Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,
saw leaders reaffirm commitments to multilateral reform, digital cooperation, and climate action, while Southeast Asia’s varied engagement highlighted the bloc’s expanding influence.
BRICS Expands, Faces Challenges in Unity
The 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi, held from August 2026, marked the inclusion of new members Egypt, Iran, and the UAE, expanding BRICS’ footprint in the Global South. The summit, hosted under the theme Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,
emphasized digital transformation, sustainable development, and multilateral reform. This initiative sought to reduce reliance on Western-led frameworks and establish a unified approach to emerging technologies.
Disagreements over the Middle East conflict prevented the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi from adopting a joint communiqué, resulting in only a Chair’s Statement. This revealed tensions within the bloc. The summit also launched the BRICS Pay system and expanded the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA), offering alternatives to Western financial institutions.
The summit provided policy updates. The event also featured the participation of Viksha A, who contributed to the summit’s policy discourse.
Southeast Asia Engages Differently With BRICS
ASEAN countries engaged with BRICS in varied ways, reflecting the region’s push for strategic autonomy. Indonesia, the first ASEAN member to join BRICS, used the summit to advocate for national self-reliance and Global South unity. During the event, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto emphasized three key messages: national self-reliance, Global South unity, and stronger cooperation within BRICS.
Jakarta has traditionally resisted aligning with any major power bloc, viewing BRICS as an additional tool rather than a substitute for ASEAN or the G20.
Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, as partner countries, utilized BRICS to advance economic interests in innovation, digital transformation, and clean energy. The Philippines participated as the 2026 ASEAN Chair, signaling Southeast Asia’s growing diplomatic diversification. Five ASEAN members attended the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, in different capacities, highlighting the region’s efforts to maintain strategic autonomy while exploring new opportunities. This approach aligns with ASEAN’s experience of managing relationships among competing major powers rather than choosing between them.
The summit highlighted Southeast Asia’s turn toward BRICS without a collective ASEAN decision to join. The Philippines’ participation introduced the ASEAN viewpoint into the BRICS forum without implying ASEAN’s collective alignment with BRICS objectives. Gurjit Singh, a former Indian diplomat with 37 years of service, including roles as Ambassador of India to Germany, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, ASEAN, Ethiopia, and the African Union, and author of The Mango Flavour: India and ASEAN After a Decade of the Act East Policy
(ISEAS Publishing, 2025), noted that ASEAN’s strategy involves adding platforms to its diplomatic toolbox rather than aligning with any single bloc. This dynamic highlights the region’s preference for multipolarity, where having more sides to choose from is preferable to taking sides.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanged a handshake with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto prior to the commencement of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on 12 September 2026. This gesture symbolized the deepening ties between the two nations, even as ASEAN’s broader engagement with BRICS remained non-committal.
Bangladesh Misses Summit Amid Diplomatic Tensions
Bangladesh’s absence from the summit highlighted lingering diplomatic challenges. Discussions arose regarding a potential visit by Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to India prior to the recent BRICS summit. Ultimately, neither the Bangladeshi prime minister nor any representative from Dhaka participated in the summit held in New Delhi. This absence came amid a broader recalibration of Dhaka-Delhi relations following the 2024 political transition.
Although Bangladesh is not a BRICS member, the fact that this year’s BRICS summit took place in South Asia made Bangladesh’s invitation as BIMSTEC chair and its involvement in the outreach session significant. The primary advantage for Dhaka would have been the chance to engage with global leaders and enhance diplomatic relations. Many countries sent their foreign ministers to the BRICS summit, highlighting its significance as a platform for South-South cooperation. However, Bangladesh’s absence reflected the complex interplay of regional dynamics and bilateral sensitivities.
New Delhi holds that political engagement can pave the way for resolving existing disputes, whereas Dhaka seeks a favorable political climate and mutual respect prior to any visit. India has its own concerns about the future trajectory of relations. The central issue now is how both governments establish a path for enhancing relations—considering mutual interests, political sensitivities, and strategic realities.
The summit’s legacy will depend on delivering tangible outcomes, from digital cooperation to climate resilience. For Southeast Asia, BRICS provides a platform for economic engagement, while Bangladesh’s participation depends on resolving current diplomatic challenges. As the bloc expands, its ability to translate declarations into action will define its role in reshaping global governance.