BRICS at 20: A Win for India Facing China Test Next

Source: Deccan Chronicle | Original Published At: 2026-09-16 16:41:36 UTC

Key Points

• The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi marked the grouping's 20th anniversary and concluded with the New Delhi Declaration.
• India managed internal contradictions among 11 BRICS members to reach consensus despite sanctions, regional disputes, and divergent relations with the United States and China.
• The declaration criticized unilateral sanctions and trade barriers while avoiding explicit alignment with any member on geopolitical crises.
• India enhanced the summit's Global South character by inviting regional organizations and calling for reform of the United Nations, Security Council, and Bretton Woods institutions.
• China's chairmanship will be a key test as Beijing proposed deeper cooperation in trade, AI, digital industries, manufacturing, and finance.
• India proposed continuity mechanisms, including a BRICS Troika and a digital repository, to preserve decisions and implementation across presidencies.