Context

• The 18th BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, demonstrated the grouping’s ability to reconcile divergent interests through the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration.
• Under India’s chairmanship, the summit reinforced strategic autonomy, multipolarity and consensus-building.
• However, institutional weaknesses, geopolitical rivalries and economic inequalities continue to limit BRICS’ effectiveness.

The New Delhi Declaration: Major Achievements

• The declaration addressed global governance, trade, finance, energy, climate change, technology, health and agriculture.
• Its major objectives included:
  • Promoting local-currency trade and interoperable cross-border payment systems.
  • Implementing the BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy 2030 and the Global Value Chain Action Plan for 2026–2030.
  • Reforming the United Nations and international financial institutions to improve developing countries’ representation.
  • Supporting de-escalation in West Asia and humanitarian access to Gaza.
  • Strengthening cooperation in artificial intelligence, food security and sustainable development.
• The declaration also defended the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its rules-based trading system.
• Nevertheless, the success of these initiatives depends on translating commitments into practical outcomes.

The Message and the Approach

• Reforming Global Governance
  • Existing international institutions inadequately reflect contemporary economic and demographic realities.
  • India advocated reforms to the United Nations, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank to provide emerging and developing economies with greater representation.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged BRICS leaders to develop ten proposals for global governance reform.
  • The emphasis on multi-polarity reflected the demand for a more inclusive international order.
  • However, meaningful reform requires sustained negotiations and political commitment.
• Strategic Autonomy and Diplomatic Engagement
  • India’s approach reflected strategic autonomy and multi-alignment, allowing cooperation with competing powers without excessive dependence on any single country.
  • The participation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, the UAE and Iran demonstrated BRICS’ potential to facilitate dialogue.
  • However, diplomatic cordiality does not necessarily resolve underlying disputes.
  • Sustained cooperation requires members to manage differences while pursuing common interests.
• Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Development
  • The declaration recognised artificial intelligence (AI) as a driver of economic growth, improved public services and sustainable development.
  • It encouraged cooperation in computing resources, research, skills and innovation.
  • Collaboration in technology, healthcare, energy and agriculture could help developing countries address shared challenges and reduce technological inequalities.

What a More Sober Assessment Shows

• The Limits of Multilateral Cooperation
  • Since the first BRIC summit in 2009, major demands for reforming the IMF, World Bank and United Nations have remained substantially unfulfilled.
  • BRICS has also failed to achieve sufficient economic integration to challenge the dominance of the Bretton Woods institutions effectively.
  • This reveals a persistent gap between declared ambitions and practical achievements.
  • Consensus has limited value without implementation, institutional capacity and measurable results.
• From Multilateralism to Pragmatic Coalitions
  • The contemporary world increasingly favours ad hoc cooperation and interest-based partnerships over permanent alliances.
  • BRICS members differ in political systems, economic priorities and strategic objectives.
  • Consequently, the grouping is better understood as a flexible platform for consultation and selective cooperation than as a unified geopolitical bloc. 

The China Factor

• Growing Economic Asymmetry
  • China’s economic and political influence has expanded considerably relative to other BRICS members, creating an imbalance of power within the grouping.
  • Such dominance risks reproducing the concentration of power that BRICS seeks to challenge internationally.
  • China’s growing influence also complicates its claim to represent the diverse interests of the Global South.
• India–China Strategic Rivalry
  • Relations between India and China remain uneasy despite diplomatic efforts following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.
  • Strategic mistrust between two leading BRICS members constrains collective decision-making.
  • India must ensure that BRICS remains a platform for cooperation rather than an instrument of disproportionate influence by any single member.

Implications for India

• The summit enhanced India’s diplomatic visibility and demonstrated its ability to facilitate dialogue.
• Nevertheless, BRICS membership does not automatically guarantee economic benefits or political leverage.
• India should pursue a balanced foreign policy, combining engagement with BRICS, cooperation with Western economies and partnerships across the developing world.
• Its influence will ultimately depend on domestic economic strength, diplomatic credibility and effective international coalitions.

The Way Forward

• Institutional reform: Advance realistic proposals for more representative global governance.
• Economic integration: Strengthen local-currency trade, payment systems, investment and value chains.
• Conflict management: Develop consultation mechanisms to prevent bilateral disputes from obstructing cooperation.
• South-South cooperation: Deliver measurable benefits through healthcare, agriculture, renewable energy and technology.
• Strategic autonomy: Enable India to pursue national interests through diversified international partnerships.

Conclusion

• The New Delhi Summit reaffirmed the demand for a more inclusive and multipolar international order while strengthening India’s diplomatic profile.
• However, institutional weaknesses, limited economic integration, geopolitical rivalries and China’s growing dominance continue to constrain BRICS.
• Its future relevance depends on converting consensus into concrete outcomes. India should engage actively with BRICS while preserving strategic autonomy and diversified partnerships.
• The true measure of BRICS’ success lies in practical cooperation and meaningful global reforms, not merely unanimous declarations.