India Hosts 18th BRICS Summit Amid Global Uncertainty

India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026, under its chairmanship with the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability." The summit brings together leaders from the expanded grouping amid global geopolitical and economic uncertainty. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated the summit occurs at a time when the global political and economic order is under "churn," with volatility, uncertainty, and complexity as defining features. He emphasized that resilience and cooperation are key to navigating challenges related to geopolitical conflicts, pandemics, and climate-related disruptions. The summit's opening session focused on "Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism," with discussions centering on calls for greater representation of emerging economies in global institutions. Leaders also visited the Bharat Innovates Exhibition, showcasing India's emphasis on technology and innovation. A key moment was the scheduled bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at 5:45 PM on the summit's first day.