The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi has placed India at the centre of discussions on some of the most difficult geopolitical and economic questions facing the world. Held under India’s chairship on September 12–13, the summit brought together the expanded BRICS membership and partner countries, with current conflicts, global governance, trade, development and the future of multilateralism among the major issues discussed.
BRICS members now account for nearly half of the world’s population and around 40 per cent of global GDP measured at purchasing power parity (PPP). The expanded grouping brings together Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, alongside its partner countries — Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
The New Delhi summit has brought a wide range of leaders and senior representatives to India, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng, UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, while Saudi Arabia and Brazil are represented by Foreign Ministers Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Mauro Vieirais.
The summit was also a demonstration of India’s geopolitical heft. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings around the summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, while India continues to maintain a strategic relationship with the United States, strong ties with the Gulf and an expanding partnership with countries across Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Xi’s visit was particularly notable as it was his first trip to India since 2019.
The New Delhi Declaration called for peaceful and diplomatic approaches to international conflicts and addressed issues including terrorism, unilateral sanctions, trade restrictions, global governance and greater representation for developing countries. Modi has also positioned BRICS as a platform for the Global South rather than an anti-Western grouping, arguing for a greater role for developing countries in shaping international rules and institutions.
One of the more consequential diplomatic moments came around Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the summit. The two sides discussed de-escalation, regional stability and prospects for peace. Iran and the UAE subsequently endorsed the BRICS statement calling for restraint, protection of civilians, respect for sovereignty and the safeguarding of trade and maritime security. The engagement was significant given the tensions between Iran and Gulf states, particularly the UAE, during the current conflict.
India could also play a significant role in efforts to address the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict involving the United States and Iran. Its relationships with Moscow, Washington, Tehran, the Gulf and Israel, as well as its wider diplomatic reach, give New Delhi unique geopolitical power and channels of engagement with countries on different sides of major conflicts.
India’s influence also extends beyond traditional diplomacy. Its cultural soft power was on display at the BRICS gala, where Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sang Khwaab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat, a song sung by the late legendary Indian singer, Kishore Kumar. Ibrahim has previously spoken about his admiration for Kishore Kumar and had performed the same song during an interview in India in 2024.
The New Delhi summit ultimately highlighted India’s unusual position in today’s international system: it is simultaneously a member of the G20 and BRICS, a regular G7 invitee, a major Indo-Pacific partner of the West and a country maintaining working relationships with Russia, Iran, China, Israel, the Gulf, Palestine, North and South Korea, and countries from Ethiopia to Brazil. These developments, along with India’s status as one of the world’s most powerful militaries and largest economies, further cement its rise as a new pole of power in a multipolar world.
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