In the 21st-century architecture of global governance, BRICS occupies a special place, even though it is an informal forum rather than a treaty-based organisation. Its evolution over the past two decades tells the story of its origin, development, achievements, and ongoing challenges. The trajectory is interpreted differently by experts: some dismiss the grouping as a talk shop, while others are convinced that its composition, philosophy, and ambition warrant special attention. A fair perspective would indicate that, as a key forum for the Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EMDCs), it has played a significant role in world affairs at a time when other plurilateral bodies such as the G20, G7, and SCO have struggled to gain prominence. Nevertheless, BRICS, too, faces serious challenges.
In this context, what is the 18th BRICS summit, to be held on 12-13 September in Delhi, likely to achieve? Since January 2026, the Chair has made concerted efforts to arrange over 350 meetings with officials, ministers, think tanks, civil society, and business organisations to advance an ambitious agenda. Indian officials have been using their experience as hosts of the G20 summit in September 2023 to turn the BRICS summit into a major international event, but they have refrained from projecting it as the ‘People’s BRICS’, as they had insisted on doing with G20 just three years ago. The fact remains that, given the turbulence and tensions on the international scene today, expectations from the annual gathering of BRICS nations are low.
The Russia-Ukraine war, which began in February 2022, continues. The US-Israel war against Iran, which was started on 28 February this year, has morphed into a stalemate. Three members of BRICS have been involved in it: Saudi Arabia and the UAE are on the US-Israel side, the object of Iranian counter-attacks, and Iran, the principal antagonist of the US and Israel. This division ensured serious fissures within the forum, preventing it from issuing a consensus-based declaration by its foreign invaders at their last meeting in May 2026. The result was that they had to be content with a Chair’s summary, which recorded differences among the members.
Low expectations are nonetheless tempered by some hope that the forthcoming 18th summit may yield a solid score. The two recent summits – Johannesburg in 2023 and Kazan in 2024 – were focused on the goal of expansion. They managed to get it right, resulting in the grouping now having 11 member countries and 10 partner countries representing regions such as Eurasia, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. The last summit in Rio de Janeiro in July 2025 took place against the immediate backdrop of air strikes by the US and Israel against Iran, a BRICS member. The summit was marked by a lower-level representation by leaders, which compelled the top leaders of IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) to do the heavy lifting to deliver a sound outcome. Indications for the Delhi summit suggest that the top leaders of the original Five (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) may be present, and that a majority of other member and partner countries will also attend. Their presence and contribution might produce a substantial result.
This brings us to a few critical issues that may require the attention and agreement of summit participants to ensure the conference’s success. Six specific points may be noted here.
One, it is recognised that BRICS has little role to play in resolving the major war and peace issues of our time, namely Ukraine and Iran. In both conflicts, BRICS members are involved; hence, internal fissures are a reality. The forum has learned to live with them. Without fixing responsibility for the conflicts, it is likely to call for their early conclusion, extolling the virtues of peace through dialogue and diplomacy. Even for such a general message to carry some weight, it will be important for the summit to produce a clear-cut consensus-based Delhi Declaration. The Chair’s all-out attempt will be to secure it.
However, the latest turn in US-Iran relations has the potential to cause many complications for BRICS. On 24 August, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the commencement of ‘Operation Economic Outcast’ against Iran, with the objective “to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone.”1 Washington has called upon countries having economic links with Iran to choose between that country and the US. How the summit participants deal with this intricate challenge when the President of Iran may be sitting with them in the conference room will be worth watching.
Two, despite their inability to resolve the ongoing conflicts, the BRICS leaders may be counted upon to pay a rich tribute to the ‘BRICS spirit’ comprising mutual respect and understanding, equality, solidarity, openness, inclusiveness and consensus. They will also reaffirm their strong commitment to fostering strategic partnership under the tripod of political and security cooperation, economic and financial collaboration, and people-to-people exchanges.
Three, a call for reform of global governance structures is inevitable. As part of this, reform of the UN, especially the Security Council, will be considered. From the perspective of IBSA members, the Johannesburg and Rio summits saw only marginal progress, but in recent months the expansion process has taken a hit. Reports suggest that two African members – Egypt and Ethiopia – have begun questioning South Africa’s candidature for a permanent seat. This will make the task of China and Russia easier by perhaps delaying a clear decision in support of the other candidates, thus causing disappointment to India and Brazil.
Four, the Indian Chair’s principal emphasis throughout the preparatory phase has been to accelerate the adoption of a common approach on deepening and diversifying practical cooperation. Every document emerging from official consultations carries the theme of “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability” to such an extent that an average reader may be excused if he concludes that BRICS stands for these oft-repeated seven words rather than the five original member countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi observed, “Just as we brought inclusivity to our G20 Presidency and placed the concerns of the Global South at the forefront of the agenda, similarly, during our Presidency of BRICS, we will advance this forum with a people-centric approach and the spirit of ‘Humanity First.’”2
Fifth, a careful perusal of the understandings reached and decisions taken by preceding Ministerial Meetings indicates that new measures of cooperation in such diverse domains as Environment, Culture, Education, Trade, Industry, Finance and others have been considered and finalised. The summit participants will have an overall say in giving them their final shape. But once the summit concludes, the question of implementing the summit decisions will arise. Observers point out that, like many other groupings, BRICS too remains vulnerable on this score.
Six, what the Delhi summit decides on strengthening the New Development Bank and on facilitating “fast, low-cost, more accessible, efficient, transparent and safe cross-border payments among BRICS countries and other nations which can support greater trade and investment flows,”3 will be of considerable importance. Steady progress on these matters will shape the future of BRICS.
Finally, a word about India’s role and approach. BRICS figures prominently among India’s foreign policy priorities because it guarantees strategic autonomy, facilitates leadership of the Global South, and helps it expand its cultural, social, economic, and diplomatic linkages with critically important nations and regions worldwide. A successful Delhi Summit under a vigorous Indian presidency is certain to yield rich dividends.
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Endnotes
1 Laura Kelly, ‘Bessent warns Iran’s global partners to cut ties or face ‘Operation Economic Outcast’’, The Hill, 24 August 2026, https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6047366-iran-economy-sanctions-bessent-trump/
2 https://www.brics2026.gov.in/
3 ‘Chair’s Statement and Outcome Document at BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting’, Ministry of External Affairs, May 15, 2026, https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents?dtl/41144
