BRICS Summit 2026: New Delhi Declaration, India-China Talks and India-Russia Ties — Key Takeaways

The 18th BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026, concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration. Global governance reforms, UN Security Council representation, terrorism, local currency trade, AI, energy and cooperation among the Global South were among the key issues. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were also major highlights of the summit

The **18th BRICS Summit** was held in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026, under India’s BRICS chairship. The summit brought major global issues including international security, global governance, trade, energy, artificial intelligence, climate and the role of the Global South into focus.

One of the biggest outcomes was the adoption of the **New Delhi Declaration 2026** by BRICS member states. The declaration called for reforms to make global governance more representative, fair, effective and responsive. It also highlighted the need for greater representation of the Global South in the United Nations Security Council. China and Russia reiterated support for the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the UN, including the Security Council.

### ***BRICS Takes a Strong Position on Terrorism***

Terrorism remained an important issue at the summit. The New Delhi Declaration strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and called for a zero-tolerance approach.

The declaration also specifically condemned the **April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terrorist attack**, which killed 26 people. BRICS members also highlighted the need to address terrorist financing, safe havens and cross-border terrorism.

### ***No Common BRICS Currency — Focus on Local Currencies***

Despite continuing global speculation about a possible BRICS common currency, **no common BRICS currency was launched at the New Delhi Summit**.

Instead, BRICS countries emphasized greater use of **local currencies in trade and stronger cross-border payment mechanisms**. The objective is to improve financial cooperation and make trade between member countries more efficient.

### ***Modi-Xi Meeting Becomes a Major Highlight***

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Chinese President **Xi Jinping** was one of the most closely watched events of the summit.

The two leaders discussed taking India-China relations forward from a strategic and long-term perspective. They emphasized peace and stability along the border and discussed efforts toward a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question.

Economic issues were also part of the discussion, including trade imbalance, supply chains, market access, business links, cultural exchanges and greater people-to-people mobility.

### *Modi-Putin Talks Focus on Trade, Defence and Energy*

Prime Minister Modi also met Russian President **Vladimir Putin** on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.

The two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation across political, economic, defence, energy, space, skill mobility and people-to-people sectors.

They also highlighted the significance of **INNOPROM India**, Russia’s industrial exhibition held in India for the first time, as a platform to strengthen trade and industrial cooperation between the two countries.

### ***AI, Energy and Critical Minerals***

Artificial Intelligence, critical minerals, energy, food security, healthcare and climate action were also important areas of discussion.

BRICS members are increasingly looking at practical cooperation in emerging technologies. China announced plans for a **BRICS AI Open Source Zone** aimed at strengthening cooperation in AI models, training and the wider AI ecosystem.

### ***China to Take Over the BRICS Chairship***

With India’s 2026 chairship concluding, **China is set to take the next BRICS chairship**.

The New Delhi Summit demonstrated that despite significant geopolitical differences among BRICS members, the group continues to search for common ground on economic cooperation, Global South representation and reform of international institutions.

### Conclusion

The 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi was significant not only because of the leaders who attended it, but also because India used its chairship to push issues such as **global governance reform, Global South representation, counter-terrorism, economic cooperation and emerging technologies**.

The bigger test, however, will be implementation. The real impact of the New Delhi Declaration will depend on whether its commitments are converted into concrete action