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BRICS 2026 Reveals Ambition, Contradictions, and Uncertain Futures

BRICS’ New Delhi Summit expanded the grouping’s ambitions, but geopolitical divisions and weak institutional clarity continue to challenge its future.

Much fanfare accompanied the two-day (September 12-13) 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The Indian government shut down the capital through road closures, dignitaries made grand statements – including, notably, one by Russian President Vladimir Putin that the “old leaders” (the G7) are being replaced by “new engines of economic growth” (BRICS countries). 

The grouping of an expanded 11 full members (Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates) issued a 140-point declaration on topics from Bretton Woods to conflict in the Middle East. Indian Member of Parliament Vikramjit Singh Sahney proclaimed that the summit was “historic” and “a major diplomatic achievement for India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” 

But what did the meeting actually accomplish, and what is the future of BRICS?  

The BRICS New Delhi declaration made many pledges. Two of these reaffirmed the “BRICS spirit of mutual respect and understanding, sovereign equality, solidarity, democracy, openness, inclusiveness, collaboration and consensus” as well as a commitment to upholding international law. Though these sounded agreeable, “mutual respect,” “democracy,” “openness,” and “upholding international law” ring particularly hollow in view of ongoing conflicts involving some BRICS members as well as the global tilt toward autocracy in recent years. 

Nevertheless, the declaration went on to stress the importance of developing nations’ promoting dialogue for a more just and stable international order. It referenced the BRICS Payment Task Force and the exploration of efficient cross-border payment mechanisms. 

That said, BRICS opposes carbon border adjustment mechanisms, deeming them discriminatory toward developing nations. Though this might be true, these nations should account for the carbon output of companies in the Global South via the implementation of their own border adjustment mechanisms, which would capture not only carbon, but also tax revenue. 

On the environment, the declaration acknowledged the challenges of urban development, water availability, biodiversity, desertification, deforestation and waste management. This document named a variety of new initiatives to address these problems such as the BRICS Guidelines for Disaster Management Early Warning Data Integration and the Network of BRICS Institutions to Advance Knowledge Sharing, Research and Innovation in Sustainable Lifestyles. 

In terms of human rights, it affirmed the importance of intellectual property protection and economic advancement for women. But without proper execution, these........

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