BRICS in a Fragmented World Order

Summit and Key Outcomes

The 18th BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, under India’s chairmanship, culminating in the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration.
The declaration covered global governance, trade, finance, energy, climate change, technology, health and agriculture.
Key priorities included local-currency trade, interoperable cross-border payments, implementation of the BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy 2030 and the Global Value Chain Action Plan 2026–2030.
Members called for reforms in the UN, IMF and World Bank to improve developing countries’ representation and supported WTO rules-based trade.
Cooperation in artificial intelligence, food security, sustainable development and humanitarian assistance in Gaza was also emphasised.

Strategic autonomy: BRICS enables India to engage with major powers while avoiding excessive dependence on any single geopolitical bloc.
Multipolarity: India supports a more representative global order in which emerging economies have greater influence over international decision-making.
Diplomatic engagement: The grouping provides a platform for dialogue among countries with competing strategic interests.
Development cooperation: Collaboration in AI, healthcare, agriculture, energy and digital payments can help address shared challenges and technological inequalities.

Implementation deficit: Long-standing demands for reforming global financial institutions and the UN have produced limited concrete outcomes.
Divergent interests: Members differ in political systems, economic priorities and foreign-policy objectives, limiting the scope for collective action.
Economic asymmetry: China’s economic weight creates an imbalance within the grouping and raises concerns about concentration of influence.
India–China rivalry: Strategic mistrust, including tensions following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, can constrain consensus-building.
Limited integration: BRICS has yet to develop the level of economic integration needed to significantly challenge the established Bretton Woods institutions.

BRICS enhances India’s diplomatic visibility and provides opportunities to build coalitions among developing economies.
However, membership does not automatically translate into economic gains or greater geopolitical influence.
India must ensure that cooperation remains balanced and does not become dominated by any single member.
Engagement with BRICS should complement India’s partnerships with Western economies and other developing countries.

Pursue realistic reforms of global institutions, including greater representation for developing economies.
Convert declarations into measurable outcomes through stronger implementation mechanisms and regular progress reviews.
Expand local-currency settlements, cross-border payment interoperability, investment and regional value chains.
Establish mechanisms to prevent bilateral disputes from disrupting cooperation.
Strengthen India’s domestic economic capabilities and diplomatic credibility to increase its influence in international coalitions.