BRICS Pushes Back on Trump, but India Keeps It Non-Western, Not Anti-US

Source: Outlook Business | Original Published At: 2026-09-14 11:37:59 UTC

Key Points

• The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi adopted a 45-page declaration opposing unilateral tariffs, sanctions and economic coercion.
• The declaration called for reform of the World Trade Organization and restoration of its dispute settlement mechanism.
• BRICS supported greater use of local currencies in trade and investment and continued work on cross-border payment interoperability, but stopped short of proposing a BRICS currency.
• India emphasized a non-Western rather than anti-US approach, seeking greater Global South representation within existing international institutions.
• The declaration criticized unilateral climate-linked trade measures, including concerns about mechanisms such as the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
• The summit facilitated diplomatic engagement between Iran and the United Arab Emirates and produced consensus language on West Asia without naming the United States, Israel or Iran.
• China will chair BRICS in 2027 and host the next summit, making implementation of the Delhi agenda the next test.