India is preparing to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, putting India at the centre of an important global diplomatic gathering.
The expanded BRICS grouping brings together major emerging economies and represents a substantial share of the world’s population.
India is expected to push an agenda focused on economic cooperation, development, reform of international institutions, climate action, digital infrastructure and the interests of the Global South.
A key issue for India is maintaining BRICS as a platform for practical economic and development cooperation rather than allowing it to become primarily an anti-Western geopolitical bloc. Analysts have highlighted differences among BRICS members, particularly over foreign-policy priorities and their relationships with the United States and Europe.
Why it matters: With India hosting the summit, the meeting could significantly shape New Delhi’s diplomatic positioning between the US-led Western system, China and Russia, and the wider Global South.