India’s 2026 BRICS presidency is framed as a test of whether BRICS can build practical financial cooperation through payment interoperability, local currencies, and the New Development Bank rather than symbolic monetary initiatives.
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, with discussions focused on digital payments, cross-border settlement mechanisms, resilient supply chains, and economic cooperation among member states.
An explainer on BRICS, its origins, expansion, the 2026 India summit theme, and the role of the New Development Bank.
A China Daily editorial cited by ANI argues that expanding BRICS cooperation can strengthen development-chain resilience for Global South economies through trade diversification, connectivity, local-currency settlement, and institutional support.
An opinion piece examines India’s BRICS presidency priorities, including Women-Led Development, cross-border payments, MSME resilience, renewable energy, supply chains, and a reformist multilateral approach.
As BRICS expands and advances local-currency and financial cooperation initiatives, attention is turning to whether the New Development Bank can align its capacity with the bloc’s economic agenda.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is in India for a three-day visit to attend the 18th BRICS summit, with a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to cover trade, energy, technology and the Ukraine conflict.
Intra-BRICS trade has risen sharply, with cross-border payments and reducing dependence on the U.S. dollar expected to feature in the 18th BRICS Summit.
The Delhi summit will focus on defense, energy, technology, trade, and economic cooperation among BRICS member states.
