BRICS Summit in New Delhi focuses on Global South empowerment

The 18th BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, concluded with the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration. Under India’s chairmanship, the expanded 11-member bloc focused on themes of resilience, innovation, and cooperation, aiming to empower the Global South and advocate for structural reforms in global governance, including the UN Security Council and multilateral development banks.

Leaders addressed various geopolitical and economic issues. Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that BRICS members now produce over 40% of global output, surpassing the G7. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflicts, specifically calling for an end to the war in Ukraine. While the summit highlighted the bloc's growing economic and demographic weight, observers noted the challenges of maintaining consensus among a more diverse membership.

Economic discussions included the exploration of cross-border payment mechanisms and opposition to certain carbon border adjustment mechanisms. Despite claims circulating on social media regarding the health of multiple world leaders following the event, reports indicate these claims are false, though South African President Cyril Ramaphosa did fall ill after returning from the summit.