New Delhi: India has said it will work to build consensus across an enlarged and increasingly diverse BRICS grouping ahead of the leaders’ summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, including on tensions in West Asia and on practical measures to reduce trade costs.
The 18th BRICS Summit will be held at Bharat Mandapam under India’s 2026 chairmanship. Officials say the summit will bring together the bloc’s 11 members, along with partner countries and outreach invitees. The theme for this year’s summit is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
An Indian official said the grouping operates on consensus, and that New Delhi’s role as chair is to keep members engaged in dialogue. “BRICS framework is based on consensus. As chair, we want engagement, dialogue with members,” the official said, adding, “As chair, we are transparent. It’s a large grouping, 11 members. It brings diversity and experiences. Group focuses on dialogue, diplomacy. Before the summit, we want to build consensus wherever we can.”
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That task has been complicated by rifts among members over the West Asia conflict, including differences involving Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Earlier this year, foreign ministers issued a chair’s outcome document rather than a fully agreed joint declaration, following what were described as “differing views” on the regional crisis.
Sherpa-level talks on a leaders’ statement are continuing. “Working on joint statement,” the official said. “On ministerial meetings, we have seen outcome documents. We have worked [the] whole year, and at summit level, leaders will take stock.” India, the official added, has “stood for dialogue, diplomacy.” Members have called for an early end to the crisis, protection of civilians, and free movement through waterways. “Our endeavour is to have dialogue. We will continue to engage and to find landing zones,” the official said.
On finance, India described its work on payments and trade in national currencies as a practical effort rather than a campaign against any third country. “Look at practical mechanism to reduce transaction cost, not aimed at any country. Discussions continue at finance track, technical level. Let’s wait for finance ministers meet in early Sept,” the official said.
The New Development Bank was described as a “concrete manifestation of what BRICS can do” and “an important part of [the] BRICS framework of governance.” India will next chair the bank, and the official said its effort would be to meet the aspirations of its members. New Delhi also wants “more balanced trade between BRICS countries.”
Officials said India’s political message for the summit is development-focused and “people-centric,” noting that the country has consolidated existing initiatives for developing economies while also taking up new ones. Every ministry now has a dedicated BRICS unit. The grouping has again called for reformed multilateralism, and India has shared its experience with UPI and digital health platforms with partner countries.
Ten partner countries have been invited to the summit, and officials said the response has been “encouraging.” Saudi Arabia, which was invited earlier to join BRICS, “continues to engage” and has been asked to attend the summit. India said further expansion of the bloc will follow agreed procedures and consensus, after a period of consolidation.
On US sanctions and tariffs, India said it is examining the implications, while noting that BRICS “has articulated its postures in declarations.” Leaders at the summit will now have to translate a year of ministerial-level work into a text the expanded grouping can agree on.