World · Asia-Pacific Updated 8 days ago 2 publishers reporting
BRICS summit convenes in New Delhi amid Ukraine and Middle‑East wars and rising US‑China tensions
News Brief
Leaders of the 11‑member BRICS bloc gathered in New Delhi on 12 September 2026 for a summit focused on trade, investment and global security issues. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted heads of state including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian. The meeting comes as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, together with heightened US‑China rivalry, strain the group’s cohesion. Delegates are expected to discuss economic cooperation, energy, food security, technology, supply‑chain resilience and reforms of international institutions, with a particular emphasis on reducing reliance on the US dollar. India seeks to balance its historic ties with Moscow and Tehran while deepening relations with the United States and Europe, and hopes to secure a joint declaration despite earlier diplomatic deadlocks.
Key points
The summit was held in New Delhi on 12 September 2026 with participation from all BRICS members, including Russia, China, Iran and the other eight nations.
Security forces deployed thousands of police and paramilitary personnel, imposing traffic restrictions around the venue.
Discussions are set to cover economic cooperation, energy, food security, technology, supply‑chain issues and reforms of global institutions.
A priority for the bloc is to lessen dependence on the US dollar by promoting the use of national currencies in trade and seeking alternatives to Western‑dominated financial systems.
India aims to maintain strategic partnerships with Russia and Iran while expanding defence, economic and technology ties with the US and Europe.
Previous attempts at a joint BRICS statement faltered in May over disagreements related to the Iran war, raising questions about the summit’s ability to produce a unified declaration.
What sources agree on
The BRICS summit took place in New Delhi on 12 September 2026.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted leaders from Russia, China, Iran and the other eight BRICS members.
The agenda includes trade, investment, energy, food security, technology, supply‑chain resilience and reforms of global institutions.
Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, along with US‑China tensions, are influencing the bloc’s discussions.
Security personnel were deployed in large numbers, with traffic diversions implemented around the summit venue.
India is attempting to balance its relationships with Moscow and Tehran while strengthening ties with the United States and Europe.
Still unclear
Whether the summit will succeed in issuing a joint BRICS declaration, given prior disagreements over the Iran conflict.
Source & attribution
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2 independent reports
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France 24Europe
Original headline
BRICS leaders gather in India as wars and US tensions test unity
