BRICS Summit Opens in New Delhi Amid Internal Divisions

The 18th BRICS summit convened in New Delhi on Saturday, September 12, 2026, bringing together leaders of the expanded economic bloc amid internal divisions and geopolitical tensions. The gathering, chaired by India under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," marks the bloc's 20th anniversary and tests the cohesion of its 11 members. Russian President Vladimir Putin, setting the tone for the two-day meeting, stated that the grouping is not against anyone but exists to advance its members' interests. He highlighted BRICS' economic weight, noting its 40 percent share of global output compared with the 29 percent share of the U.S.-led Group of Seven. The summit follows a series of high-level bilateral meetings on the sidelines. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held separate talks with Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday, September 11. Modi and Putin agreed to work towards increasing bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030 and discussed cooperation in defence, energy, critical minerals, and other sectors. Modi reiterated India's position that dialogue and diplomacy remain the way forward on the Ukraine conflict.