More heft: On India and the 18th BRICS Summit

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Source: The Hindu | Original Published At: 2026-09-11 18:50:00 UTC

India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in Delhi, its second major multilateral hosting responsibility since the G-20 Summit in 2023.
BRICS expanded in 2024 with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia joined in 2025, making consensus-building more complex.
Conflicts involving BRICS members, including the impact of U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran and Iranian retaliation affecting the United Arab Emirates, have complicated agreement on a joint statement.
India's position on Israel has previously differed from the grouping's traditional stance, adding diplomatic challenges during its presidency.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on BRICS members over plans to increase intra-BRICS payments and trade, creating additional pressure on New Delhi.
BRICS accounts for half the world's population, two-fifths of the global economy, and a quarter of global trade, with leaders from member states deliberating on global governance.