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Putin, Xi and a Bigger BRICS: India Takes Its Vision for the Bloc to Global Stage

Putin, Xi and a bigger Brics: India takes its vision for the bloc to global stage
Countries
BrazilChinaEgyptEthiopiaIndiaIndonesiaIranRussiaSaudi ArabiaSouth AfricaUnited Arab Emirates
Cooperation areas
Economic GrowthInclusive MultilateralismInstitutional DevelopmentSustainable Development

Source: Times of India | Original Published At: 2026-09-11 08:35:00 UTC

Key Points

  • India hosts the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on 12-13 September 2026, with leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping expected to attend.
  • BRICS now has 11 full members after Indonesia’s accession and 10 partner countries, representing about 49.5% of the global population, 40% of global GDP and 26% of global trade.
  • India’s 2026 chairship prioritises resilience, innovation, practical cooperation and sustainability, including supply chains, digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, development finance and climate action.
  • India’s goods trade with BRICS members doubled to $417.5 billion in FY26, but imports rose faster, widening India’s BRICS trade deficit to $226.1 billion.
  • The expanded grouping faces consensus challenges, especially over West Asia, with Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia holding differing positions.
  • India frames BRICS as a platform for strategic autonomy and Global South engagement, while continuing relations with Western partners and avoiding an explicitly anti-Western orientation.
  • The summit is expected to conclude with the New Delhi Declaration and outcomes on logistics, startups, cross-border payments, development finance and global governance reform.
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