The BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, 2026, under India’s chairship and the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” According to the official New Delhi Declaration, the summit focused on strengthening cooperation across political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people pillars.
Amb. Dr. Rajeev Menon praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role in steering India’s BRICS chairship and said that the successful organization of the summit reflected India’s growing diplomatic engagement and its ability to bring diverse countries together on a common platform.
He said that the summit provided an important opportunity for BRICS members and partner countries to discuss issues ranging from economic cooperation and innovation to sustainable development, food and energy security and global governance.
India’s BRICS chairship involved extensive engagements across the country. The Indian government said that more than 350 meetings and high-level engagements were conducted across over 25 cities during the chairship, covering the three major pillars of BRICS cooperation.
Dr. Menon further highlighted the significance of India’s focus on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. He said that these priorities are increasingly relevant at a time when countries are dealing with economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, technological changes and challenges related to sustainable development.
The New Delhi Declaration reaffirmed the BRICS members’ commitment to strengthening cooperation and promoting a more representative and inclusive international system. It also emphasized solidarity with emerging markets and developing countries and welcomed greater participation by partner countries.
The summit also provided an opportunity for India to engage with several important international partners on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting. Prime Minister Modi held bilateral discussions with leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Discussions covered areas such as trade, investment, technology, infrastructure, energy, security and people-to-people relations.
The meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping was also significant, with both sides discussing the development of bilateral relations, border-related issues, trade and economic cooperation. The Indian government said that both leaders emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border and continuing dialogue.
Dr. Menon said that such engagements demonstrate the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in addressing complex international challenges. He added that India’s role within BRICS provides an avenue to highlight the interests and priorities of developing and emerging economies.
He also commended the organizational efforts behind the summit, saying that successfully bringing together leaders and representatives from multiple countries requires extensive coordination, planning and diplomatic preparation.
According to Dr. Menon, India’s BRICS chairship has provided an opportunity to showcase the country’s institutional capabilities while simultaneously advancing discussions on economic growth, technology, sustainability and international cooperation.
As BRICS continues to expand its membership and partnerships, the grouping is becoming an increasingly important platform for discussions among emerging and developing economies. India’s 2026 chairship comes two decades after the establishment of BRICS and marks the country’s fourth time leading the grouping.
Amb. Dr. Rajeev Menon concluded that the successful conclusion of the New Delhi summit should be viewed as an important chapter in India’s continuing engagement with multilateral institutions. He said the summit demonstrated India’s commitment to constructive dialogue, international cooperation and development-oriented diplomacy.
The BRICS summit has consequently placed renewed attention on India’s role in shaping discussions on global economic cooperation, sustainable development and reforms in international institutions, while providing a platform for countries to work together on shared challenges.
