Introduction: The Rise of BRICS in a Changing World

World orders do not change overnight. Throughout history, they have been transformed not only by wars and treaties. Sometimes the first signs of change have appeared in a ship being loaded at a port, a newly opened trade route, or countries from different corners of the world gathering around the same table. Major transformations are often felt first in the economy; they then become visible in trade routes, energy flows, financial centres and, ultimately, the distribution of power in international politics. The rise of BRICS today can be understood as part of this broader transformation.

BRICS originated from the acronym BRIC, formed from the initials of the English names of Brazil, Russia, India and China. The term was first coined in 2001 to describe the rising economic weight of these countries. Over time, BRIC evolved beyond an economic classification and, in 2006, began to take shape as a platform for political and economic consultation. The first leaders’ summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009. With the accession of South Africa in 2011, BRIC became BRICS. The full membership of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in 2024, followed by Indonesia in 2025, brought BRICS to its current membership of 11 countries.

It is not sufficient to understand the evolution of BRICS merely through the growth of its membership. While the initial emphasis was on ensuring that the growing weight of emerging economies was better reflected in the global economic and financial system, the areas of cooperation gradually expanded. Alongside economics and finance, development, science and technology, energy, trade and global governance have become part of the BRICS agenda. In this way, BRICS has evolved from a grouping associated primarily with economic weight into a broader platform through which developing countries can articulate their demands and expectations within the international system. This transformation points to a deeper change: global influence is no longer concentrated in only a few centres; different economic and political centres are strengthening their ties and assuming a more visible role in shaping the international order. As economic power changes, the demand for political representation also begins to change.

This expansion has increased BRICS’ weight while also raising new questions. To what extent can countries with different political and economic priorities develop a common agenda? Will BRICS evolve into a new power bloc, or will it remain a flexible platform for cooperation that brings different actors together within a changing global system?

These questions make the 18th BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi on 12–13 September 2026, more than simply a meeting of leaders; they make it an important point of reference for assessing the grouping’s future direction. Held under India’s 2026 chairship with the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” the summit adopted the New Delhi Declaration, which set out the priorities of an expanding BRICS in the areas of political and security cooperation, economic and financial cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Moreover, 2026 marks two decades since the beginning of BRICS’ institutional cooperation. New Delhi therefore provided a setting not only for discussing the current agenda but also for considering what kind of identity BRICS may acquire in its second twenty-year period.

The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi is significant not only because it demonstrated the expanding BRICS agenda in economic cooperation, but also because it revealed the grouping’s approach to a changing international system. Held on 12–13 September 2026, the summit adopted the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” while the New Delhi Declaration set out BRICS’ priorities for the period ahead. The fact that more than 400 meetings and events were held across 30 cities during India’s chairship also underscores that the BRICS agenda extends well beyond the leaders’ summit itself.

The table in New Delhi was, in many ways, a small reflection of today’s world. Countries from different continents, with different political systems and geopolitical priorities, were sitting around the same table. Their differences were substantial, yet the areas of common interest were also expanding. Perhaps the real story of BRICS begins precisely here: not in eliminating differences, but in seeking common ground despite them.

The Declaration highlighted the facilitation of trade and investment, the development of financial cooperation, increased joint work in technology and artificial intelligence, as well as sustainable development, energy, health and food security. This framework shows that, while maintaining its economic cooperation, BRICS is also seeking to expand opportunities for joint action in broader areas such as technology, development and global governance.

Artificial intelligence, in particular, points to a new governance dimension extending beyond BRICS’ economic cooperation. The New Delhi Declaration emphasises broader access to AI resources, while stressing safety, security, inclusiveness and reliability, as well as greater participation by countries of the Global South in AI governance. The central issue is therefore not only access to technology, but also who will shape the rules and standards governing the technologies of the future. BRICS’ approach in this field may thus become an important part of the wider effort to make global technology governance more inclusive.

Another notable aspect of the summit was the emphasis on the demand for greater representation and a stronger voice in global governance. While BRICS countries argued that the weight of developing countries should be increased within international financial and decision-making mechanisms, they reiterated calls for reform of existing international institutions, particularly the United Nations system. The New Delhi Declaration also emphasized the intention to develop BRICS cooperation around three fundamental pillars: political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people cooperation. This approach indicates that BRICS is not seeking merely to increase its economic weight, but also to make global decision-making processes more inclusive.

At the same time, one of the most notable aspects of the New Delhi Summit was the ability of countries with different political and geopolitical priorities to come together around a common declaration. In particular, the conflicts in the Middle East and the issue of Iran made the differences within the expanding BRICS structure more visible. The presence of both Iran and the United Arab Emirates on the same platform made the task of developing a common position on regional developments more complex. Nevertheless, the leaders agreed on a common text that emphasized de-escalation, maximum restraint and a diplomatic solution rather than adopting accusatory language directed at individual countries.

The Palestinian issue was also among the prominent political subjects of the New Delhi Declaration. The Declaration called for maintaining the ceasefire in Gaza and ensuring full and unhindered humanitarian access, opposed the forced displacement of Palestinians, and reaffirmed support for a two-state solution and for the full membership of the State of Palestine in the United Nations. This approach........

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