BRICS Leaders Conclude New Delhi Summit With Focus On Inclusive Growth
The 18th BRICS Summit concluded in New Delhi with the unanimous adoption of a declaration championing inclusive growth, supply chain security, and governance reform.
The 18th BRICS Summit concluded its high-stakes deliberations in New Delhi on Sunday, September 13, 2026, marking a significant milestone as the expanded geopolitical bloc entered its third decade of cooperation. Hosted at the Bharat Mandapam convention centre under India's chairship, the two-day gathering yielded the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration 2026, anchoring a unified commitment to inclusive global growth, supply chain security, and multilateral governance reform.
The summit brought together leaders from the bloc's 11 full member states — Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates — alongside 10 partner countries. According to reporting from Deccan Chronicle, the grouping's collective economic weight was a central motif of the proceedings, emphasizing the necessity of safeguarding supply chains and building an integrated market across the Global South. Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed a five-point plan covering artificial intelligence, trade and investment, digital industries, intelligent manufacturing, and science and technology.
Media additions
Day two featured a dedicated open session titled “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth,” which built upon the four pillars of India's chairship theme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reflecting on India's civilisational approach during his opening remarks reported by The Times of India, noted that development and the environment are complementary rather than alternative forces. Modi underscored practical deliverables established under India's presidency, including a BRICS digital centre of excellence for smart grids and energy storage, alongside new initiatives for agro-ecology, a BRICS MSME cooperation portal, and a BRICS urban mobility hub.
| Metric | Expanded BRICS Share | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Global Population | ~49.5 per cent | Inclusive growth, workforce participation, and social security |
| World GDP | ~40 per cent | Digital public infrastructure, AI, and fintech innovation |
| International Trade | ~26 per cent | Supply chain resilience, tariff transparency, and trade balance |
Bilateral diplomacy commanded intense global scrutiny, particularly meetings between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where both leaders reaffirmed that peace and tranquillity in border areas are essential for bilateral ties. Concurrently, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the BRICS Business Forum, criticizing Western nations for using trade and diplomatic pressure as instruments of state-level interference.
The New Delhi Declaration also addressed pressing security and humanitarian concerns, explicitly condemning terrorism, cross-border networks, and attacks on civilian infrastructure. World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the bloc's strong commitment to universal health coverage and resilient health systems following discussions on the summit's sidelines.
As international delegations prepared to depart, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, attention turned toward the future leadership of the grouping. China was wished success as the next BRICS host, tasked with carrying forward the institutional momentum cemented in New Delhi.
What to Watch Next
- China's assumption of the BRICS presidency and the setting of its upcoming agenda.
- Continued negotiations regarding the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing Annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement.
