BRICS Summit in New Delhi Tackles Global Crises, Trade and Governance Reform
The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi has brought together leaders of the expanded 11-member grouping at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, disruption in global trade and energy markets, and growing demands from developing countries for a greater role in international decision-making. The two-day summit, held on September 12–13 under India’s chairship, focused on the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the summit to argue that the Global South should move from being a “rule-taker” to a “rule-shaper”. He warned that geopolitical conflicts, supply-chain disruptions, climate pressures and the growing “weaponisation” of technology and critical minerals could undermine global development.
The New Delhi Declaration called for stronger multilateralism and a more representative international order. BRICS leaders backed greater representation for developing countries in global institutions, including reform of the United Nations Security Council and international financial institutions. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also supported the demand, saying global institutions need to reflect today’s economic and demographic realities rather than those of 1945.
The summit’s geopolitical discussions came against the backdrop of conflicts in West Asia, the war in Ukraine and growing tensions affecting international shipping and energy supplies. BRICS leaders called for diplomatic solutions to conflicts and emphasised dialogue, mediation and respect for the UN Charter.
West Asia presented one of the most difficult challenges for the expanded BRICS grouping. The bloc now includes countries with sharply different strategic interests, including Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Despite those differences, members managed to reach consensus language on regional conflicts, an outcome that highlighted both the diplomatic value and the limitations of BRICS.
The declaration also opposed unilateral sanctions and tariff barriers, reflecting a long-standing BRICS argument that global economic rules should not be dominated by a small group of advanced economies. Leaders called for a stronger and more responsive World Trade Organization and greater participation by emerging economies in global economic governance.
Trade and financial cooperation were another major focus. BRICS members supported greater use of national currencies in cross-border trade and efforts to strengthen payment systems, measures aimed at reducing vulnerabilities created by dependence on existing international financial arrangements. The broader objective is to make trade among emerging economies more resilient to geopolitical and financial shocks.
Energy security also featured prominently. The New Delhi Declaration recognised that fossil fuels will continue to play an important role, particularly for developing economies, while calling for a “just, orderly, equitable and inclusive” energy transition. BRICS countries also stressed stable energy markets, resilient supply chains and protection of critical energy infrastructure.
Climate change and technology were closely linked to the economic agenda. Leaders called for cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, digitalisation, critical minerals and sustainable development. Modi warned that control over advanced technologies and strategic resources could become another source of global inequality if access is restricted or politicised.
The summit also produced initiatives aimed at more practical cooperation. India announced an early-warning mechanism for infectious diseases, while BRICS discussions covered food security, health, agriculture, infrastructure, digital technologies, entrepreneurship and skills development. The emphasis reflected India’s attempt to make the grouping more relevant to ordinary citizens rather than limiting it to geopolitical declarations.
For India, the summit was also an important diplomatic opportunity. Modi held a series of bilateral meetings with visiting leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. His meeting with Xi was particularly significant as New Delhi and Beijing continue efforts to stabilise relations following years of border tensions.
BRICS has changed substantially since its original formation by Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2006. South Africa joined later, while the group subsequently expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Indonesia. The enlarged bloc now represents roughly half of the world’s population, giving it considerably greater economic and political weight.
But the New Delhi summit also exposed the group’s biggest weakness: BRICS is becoming more influential while simultaneously becoming harder to keep united. Members have different relationships with the United States, different positions on wars and sanctions, and competing security interests. The Iran-UAE tensions and India-China rivalry are examples of divisions that could complicate future attempts to develop common positions.
The immediate significance of the summit therefore goes beyond the individual agreements announced in New Delhi. India sought to present BRICS as a platform through which emerging economies can collectively respond to crises, influence global rules and demand greater representation in institutions that were largely designed in a different era.
As India handed the BRICS chairmanship to China for the next term, the central challenge for the grouping became clearer: Can an increasingly diverse collection of emerging powers turn its growing economic weight into coordinated global influence? The New Delhi summit produced a stronger case for cooperation, but the geopolitical differences within BRICS will determine how far that ambition can actually go.
