Leaders of the BRICS nations gathered in New Delhi on Saturday for a high-stakes summit focused on trade, investment, and global conflicts. The meeting comes as the bloc seeks a more prominent role in shaping the global agenda for emerging and developing countries, even as internal geopolitical divisions test its cohesion.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and counterparts from the other eight BRICS member nations. To secure the event, thousands of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed across New Delhi, with extensive traffic restrictions and diversions implemented around the summit venue.
A primary focus of the discussions is economic cooperation, with leaders addressing energy, food security, technology, supply chains, and reforms to global institutions. A key priority for the bloc is reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar. Members are actively promoting the use of their national currencies in bilateral trade and payments while pushing for alternatives to Western-dominated financial institutions.
For China and Russia, the BRICS grouping serves as a vital platform to challenge Western dominance, particularly that of the United States, and to foster deeper cooperation among developing economies. Speaking at the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi on Friday, President Putin emphasized that the bloc does not position itself against any external parties, stating that Moscow remains open to global cooperation. "We are in favor of our interests," Putin remarked.
Iran, facing a U.S. blockade and sweeping international sanctions, has similarly advocated for financial mechanisms that shield member states from Western economic pressure. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian strongly endorsed the transition to local currencies for trade within the bloc. "One of the most important steps is to expand the use of national currencies in trade among the members," Pezeshkian told reporters on Friday.
Meanwhile, Beijing is utilizing the summit to consolidate its influence and position the expanded bloc as a strategic counterweight to American power. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated on Friday that President Xi is expected to discuss major international issues and explore avenues to deepen cooperation among the member nations.
The summit highlights India's delicate diplomatic balancing act. New Delhi is striving to maintain its long-standing strategic partnerships with Russia and Iran while simultaneously deepening its economic, defense, and technological ties with the United States and Europe. Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine and heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, India has maintained close ties with both Moscow and Tehran while calling for diplomacy to resolve global disputes. Ahead of the summit, Prime Minister Modi held separate bilateral meetings with both Putin and Pezeshkian on Friday.
India is also utilizing the forum to address its strained relations with China. Modi and Xi are expected to hold direct talks later on Saturday, a meeting that could help solidify a diplomatic thaw following the escalation of bilateral border tensions in 2020.
A major test for the host nation will be its ability to secure a consensus joint statement at the conclusion of the summit. Deep geopolitical divisions within the bloc were highly visible in May, when BRICS foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement regarding the Iran war, forcing India to issue a chair's summary instead. The summit convenes amid heightened anxiety that the Iran war, which was triggered by U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28, could expand further due to escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi rebels. The bloc's ability to maintain unity will be tested as members navigate their varying positions on the conflict and their individual relationships with the United States.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, center right, arrives for the BRICS summit in New Delhi, India, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (Indian Foreign Ministry via AP) Indian Foreign Ministry via AP/Indian Foreign Ministry hide caption
