What India Gets Out of BRICS

Source: Foreign Policy | Original Published At: 2026-09-09 21:01:50 UTC

Key Points

• India is hosting the BRICS leaders' summit in New Delhi on Sept. 12 and 13, with security drills and city preparations underway.
• The article says BRICS supports India's strategic autonomy by allowing New Delhi to balance membership in the group with close ties to Western countries.
• It identifies engagement with the Global South, United Nations reform, and multilateralism as BRICS priorities aligned with Indian goals.
• BRICS expanded in 2024, adding members including Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran.
• The summit is framed as a chance for India to showcase convening power and deepen Global South engagement amid dissatisfaction with the Western-led economic order.
• Economic resilience is cited as a summit theme linked to U.S. tariff policies, and India is seeking consensus for a strong joint statement.
• The article notes constraints on BRICS, including tensions among some new members, reliance on the U.S. dollar, and unclear objectives, while still calling it significant for India.