BRICS Summit Preparations Enter Final Stage as New Delhi Emerges as a Centre of Multipolar Cooperation
Lucky Chand
Preparations have entered the final stage for the 18th BRICS Summit, to be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, 2026 under India’s chairship. The summit at Bharat Mandapam is being positioned not merely as an annual gathering of leaders, but as an opportunity to take the political, economic and institutional cooperation of an expanded BRICS into a new phase. The arrival of delegations, bilateral engagements and pre-summit programmes are expected to begin from September 11.
India has centred its BRICS chairship on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. Political and security cooperation, economic and financial engagement, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges have been developed as three major pillars. Throughout the year, more than 350 meetings and high-level programmes have been held across over 25 Indian cities. Trade, energy, science, education, digital infrastructure, health, environment, disaster risk reduction, women’s empowerment and youth cooperation have all been linked to the wider summit agenda.
On September 12, leaders of BRICS member states are expected to hold high-level discussions focused on inclusive global governance and the strengthening of multilateralism. The second day will feature broader dialogue involving members, partner countries and participants in the outreach format. The New Delhi Declaration to be issued at the conclusion of the summit is expected to provide greater clarity on the political, economic and development direction of BRICS in the coming period.
One of BRICS’ principal strengths is its diversity. Countries with different political systems, economic structures and national priorities are working within the same framework on development, equitable representation, energy security, financial alternatives, technology, trade and reform of global governance. The ability to build common ground within such diversity has become a defining strength of BRICS. It also gives the grouping the potential to guide an increasingly multipolar world towards dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect rather than confrontation.
Russia’s participation gives the summit additional strategic weight. Russia remains an important actor within BRICS because of its role in energy, nuclear technology, natural resources, industrial capacity and Eurasian connectivity. Its experience in expanding alternative trade routes, national-currency transactions and broader economic linkages has also added depth to BRICS discussions on financial diversification.
Iran’s presence further connects BRICS directly with West Asia, energy security and major trade corridors. With its extensive oil and natural gas resources and strategic location linking the Persian Gulf and Central Asia, Iran carries particular importance. The fact that Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are part of the same broader BRICS framework increases the potential for dialogue between major energy producers and consumers.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India is another major feature of the summit. His visit after seven years creates an opportunity for renewed high-level dialogue between China and India. As two of the world’s largest emerging economies and key pillars of BRICS, greater stability and cooperation between them could positively influence both the institutional strength of BRICS and the wider Asian economic environment.
The economic agenda includes the BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy through 2030, supply chains, small and medium-sized enterprises, trade finance, energy storage, smart grids and the digital economy. Efforts to expand settlements in national currencies and strengthen cross-border digital payments are also expected to remain prominent. The broader objective is not to immediately replace any existing global currency, but to create more flexible and diversified options for international trade and finance.
The New Development Bank remains one of the most important institutional achievements of BRICS. By financing projects in energy, transport, water, environmental infrastructure, social development and digital systems, the bank has created additional development-finance opportunities for emerging and developing economies. Its growing role demonstrates how BRICS is seeking to connect political dialogue with practical development outcomes.
Disaster risk reduction is another priority under India’s chairship. Cooperation on multi-hazard early warning, disaster finance, resilient infrastructure, science and technology carries particular relevance for Himalayan countries such as Nepal. Since Nepal, China and India share the same Himalayan ecological system, there is considerable scope for deeper regional cooperation in meteorological information, hydrological data, satellite monitoring, search and rescue technology and disaster-resilient infrastructure.
Security, transport and logistical preparations in New Delhi have also reached an advanced stage. Multi-layered security arrangements have been put in place around Bharat Mandapam, the airport, major hotels and diplomatic areas. Special security teams, counter-drone systems, contingency exercises and inter-state coordination are being used to ensure the safe movement of high-level delegations.
The overall preparations indicate that India is using the New Delhi summit as an opportunity to demonstrate the growing capacity of an expanded BRICS for practical cooperation. Concrete progress on reform of global governance, development finance, national-currency settlements, digital payments, energy security, technology, disaster management and South-South cooperation would further strengthen the institutional relevance of the grouping.
The summit is also important for Nepal. China and India are both major BRICS powers, Russia is a longstanding friend of Nepal, and there is significant potential to expand cooperation with Iran and Gulf members in energy, labour and the wider economy. Nepal’s closer engagement with such a framework could create new opportunities in development finance, clean energy, tourism, education, the digital economy, disaster security and trade.
The positive message of BRICS is clear. Global development need not remain dependent on a limited number of power centres. A more multipolar order can give countries greater room to pursue development according to their own priorities and capacities. If the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi succeeds in translating this vision into practical cooperation, BRICS can emerge as an increasingly important platform for shared development, sovereign equality and a more inclusive global order.
