18th BRICS Summit Opens in New Delhi Under India Chair

The 18th BRICS Summit opened in New Delhi on September 12, 2026 under India’s chairship, bringing together leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for two days of talks running through September 13. Held under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” the summit marks India’s turn at the helm of the expanded BRICS grouping.

Leaders and senior delegations arrived in New Delhi from late Thursday evening through early Friday morning ahead of the summit’s formal proceedings. The gathering follows a BRICS Business Forum held on its sidelines, during which several commercial agreements, including the Cochin Shipyard-DP World joint venture for ship repair in Kochi, were signed, underscoring the summit’s dual diplomatic and economic character.

What Is India’s Agenda as BRICS Chair This Year?

India’s BRICS chairship is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation across food and energy security, healthcare, disaster preparedness, trade and investment, technology and the security of critical supply chains. Among the concrete outcomes generated during the meetings is agreement on BRICS Centres of Excellence on Agro-Ecology, intended as a collaborative platform for joint research, knowledge sharing and capacity building on natural, organic and related agricultural practices among member nations.

Why Does This BRICS Summit Carry Extra Geopolitical Weight?

The presence of Putin, Xi and Pezeshkian alongside Modi in New Delhi has drawn close international attention, given the summit’s timing amid continued Western scrutiny of Russia and Iran and ongoing negotiations between India and both the United States and European Union on separate trade tracks. Foreign policy analysts note that hosting this lineup while simultaneously advancing the India-EU FTA and pursuing a trade deal with Washington illustrates India’s continued pursuit of strategic autonomy, engaging across geopolitical blocs rather than aligning exclusively with any one camp.

What Do Officials Say About the Summit’s Outcomes?

Officials have described the summit’s early sessions as generating “practical and development-oriented outcomes” across key areas of cooperation among member states. The gathering is set to conclude with the New Delhi Declaration, expected to formally outline the commitments and joint positions agreed upon by participating countries on trade, security and sustainable development issues discussed over the two-day summit.

Market and Trade Reaction

The summit’s business forum sidelines produced tangible commercial activity, including the Rs 1,800 crore Cochin Shipyard-DP World ship repair joint venture signed on September 11. Sectors from maritime infrastructure to agriculture technology are watching for further announcements as bilateral meetings between leaders continue alongside the formal summit proceedings, with markets generally viewing the summit as a platform for deal-making rather than a direct near-term market mover.

What Happens Next?

The summit concludes on September 13, 2026 with the release of the New Delhi Declaration, which will lay out the specific commitments and cooperation frameworks agreed to by BRICS members and partner countries during India’s chairship year. Follow-up ministerial meetings on the specific work-streams identified, including agro-ecology, supply chain security and disaster preparedness, are expected in the months following the summit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where and when is the 18th BRICS Summit being held?

The 18th BRICS Summit is being held in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026, under India’s chairship, with the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

Which world leaders are attending the BRICS Summit in New Delhi?

Leaders attending include Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BRICS member and partner country representatives.

What is the New Delhi Declaration expected to cover?

The New Delhi Declaration, expected at the summit’s conclusion on September 13, will outline the key outcomes and commitments agreed upon by participating countries across trade, security and sustainable development.