The BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13 will test whether an expanded BRICS can translate its growing political weight into a coherent voice on global crises, trade, finance, and security. For India, it is an opportunity to demonstrate strategic autonomy and shape the international order.

India has chaired BRICS in 2012, 2016, and 2021. The present chairmanship carries the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability”. The formulation reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s people-centric, humanity-first approach. The challenge is converting it into outcomes despite sharply divergent interests.

The Delhi Test: The Summit will bring together an 11-member grouping—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia—along with 10 partner countries. More than 350 BRICS meetings have been held in over 25 Indian cities during the chairmanship. The Summit will culminate this exercise.

The agenda will cover financial reform, local currencies, trade, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, climate change, food and energy security, terrorism, and development finance. Wars, sanctions, and supply-chain disruptions have made resilience a practical priority. Cooperation on critical minerals, agriculture, energy, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing could give the theme economic substance.

Innovation also matters. India can promote cooperation through its Digital Public Infrastructure experience, while the New Development Bank could expand local-currency lending.

America Watches Carefully: Washington is likely to view the Delhi Summit cautiously.........

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