India Prepares to Host BRICS Summit: A Strategic Balancing Act at Bharat Mandapam

NEW DELHI: Building on the diplomatic success of its 2023 G20 presidency, India is set to host the 18th BRICS summit on September 12-13 at Bharat Mandapam. As the grouping expands to encompass 11 member nations—including major players like Brazil, Russia, China, the UAE, and Iran—New Delhi intends to position itself as the pivotal bridge between the interests of the Global South and the necessity for structural reforms in Western-dominated global governance institutions.

An Assertive Vision for Global Governance

The theme for India’s 2026 chairship, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on a people-centric, humanity-first approach to international cooperation. Throughout its tenure, India has spearheaded over 350 meetings, fostering dialogue on critical issues ranging from security and foreign policy to sustainable economic development.

For India, the BRICS forum is not merely a diplomatic exercise; it is a pillar of its “strategic autonomy” policy. By participating in the bloc, India reinforces its multi-alignment strategy, ensuring that no single power bloc dictates its geopolitical trajectory. This allows New Delhi to maintain robust partnerships with Western powers and the Quad while simultaneously engaging with BRICS to advocate for overdue reforms within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the IMF, and the World Bank.

Navigating the Geopolitical Tightrope

India’s involvement in BRICS requires careful navigation of complex regional and global dynamics. Chief among these is the presence of China. By remaining an active and influential member of the bloc, India prevents the forum from being co-opted as an exclusively anti-Western or China-centric platform. India’s role as a moderator is vital for maintaining the group’s cohesion while ensuring it remains focused on development rather than ideological warfare.

Economic diversification also drives India’s engagement. Through the New Development Bank and various supply-chain cooperation frameworks, the bloc offers alternative financial architectures that reduce reliance on systems vulnerable to external political pressure. For India, these initiatives are about creating credible, non-coercive alternatives for global trade.

Challenges and the Push for Delivery

Despite its potential, the summit faces significant hurdles. Reaching a consensus on the volatile situation in West Asia remains a priority, complicated by the divergent stances of member nations like Iran and the UAE. India is working to draft a resolution anchored in the UN Charter, focusing on diplomacy, civilian safety, and freedom of navigation, while isolating economic cooperation from irreconcilable political disputes.

Simultaneously, India must manage its delicate relationship with the United States. Following recent tensions over trade and tariffs, New Delhi remains firm in its stance: while it supports legitimate local-currency settlements to ease trade, it opposes any moves toward a common BRICS currency or mechanisms that would threaten global economic stability.

Furthermore, as the bloc grows, India faces the challenge of maintaining its governability. With countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh expressing interest in membership, New Delhi must ensure that expansion does not dilute the group’s effectiveness.

As Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has emphasized, the goal for this summit is to transition BRICS from a forum of discussion to a platform of delivery. By focusing on practical outcomes—such as startup networks, cross-border payment cooperation, and counterterrorism frameworks—India aims to replicate the diplomatic dexterity it demonstrated during the G20, where it successfully negotiated a consensus on complex global conflicts. With its eyes set on a unanimous declaration, India is once again preparing to demonstrate its unique capacity to unite a fragmented world around common goals.

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