India Hosts BRICS Summit in New Delhi as Expanded Bloc Faces Internal Strains

India is preparing to host the 2026 BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government using its chairship to push a theme of resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. The bloc now counts 11 major emerging markets and developing countries, having expanded from its original Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa core. Preparations for the summit have caused significant traffic disruption across the Indian capital, with residents facing congestion and diversions as security and logistics are put in place. The gathering comes as the expanded bloc is strained by wars and rivalries among its members, complicating efforts to present a unified front. India's chairship is intended to steer the group's agenda toward practical cooperation and sustainable development outcomes. The summit will bring together leaders from across the Global South at a time when BRICS is seeking to raise its profile in global governance.

Global Impact

Geopolitically, the summit tests whether an 11-member BRICS can act as a coherent counterweight to Western-led institutions, with India positioning itself as a bridge between the Global South and major powers. Economically, any progress on local-currency trade or development finance could gradually erode dollar dominance at the margin, though internal rivalries limit near-term breakthroughs.