BRICS meets in India: What’s on the agenda, why it matters
The 18th BRICS summit is being held in New Delhi, India, amidst significant global geopolitical tensions including conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Leaders are gathering to discuss economic cooperation while navigating internal disagreements among member nations.
Why it matters
As a major economic bloc, BRICS' ability to maintain unity during global upheaval significantly impacts international trade and geopolitical power dynamics.
This year’s summit comes amid the US-Israel war on Iran, Russia’s war on Ukraine and global economic challenges.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info A man cycles past a hoarding featuring India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi before the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, [File: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters] By Priyanka Shankar Published On 12 Sep 2026 12 Sep 2026 India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting the annual BRICS Summit beginning today in the Indian capital, New Delhi, which has been decked out in BRICS-themed signs and illuminated buildings and roundabouts.
More than a dozen world leaders are attending the 18th annual summit of the bloc, which is increasingly viewed as a counterweight to economic alliances dominated by wealthier Western nations.
In preparation, some 30,000 additional security personnel have been deployed while streets around hotels the dignitaries are staying at have been closed off to traffic.
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