New Delhi will host the 18th BRICS summit from 15‑16 September, with India steering the agenda toward the twin challenges of geopolitical turbulence and climate resilience. The summit’s programme, outlined by the Indian government, places the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, energy security, and sustainable development at the top of discussions, reflecting concerns voiced in multiple domestic outlets.
Agenda Priorities
According to The Hindu, the ongoing wars and a series of global crises will dominate the summit’s deliberations, prompting BRICS members to seek collective solutions. The energy and climate track, highlighted by ET Government and WION, will foreground the Global South’s priorities, including financing green infrastructure, bolstering climate‑resilient economies and ensuring a just transition for fossil‑fuel‑dependent nations.
Economic cooperation will be addressed at the BRICS Business Forum, where Indian officials are expected to outline a “new growth roadmap” for member economies, as reported by ANI News. The forum is slated to discuss reforms in finance, trade and technology, aiming to reduce reliance on Western-dominated financial systems while still engaging with them.
High‑Profile Bilateral Meetings
India’s foreign policy calculations are underscored by a series of high‑profile bilateral meetings. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is arriving with a delegation that includes three military aircraft that touched down at Noida airport, The Times of India noted.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is also scheduled to attend, marking his first visit to India in seven years. The two leaders are expected to hold a private bilateral session, a development emphasized by India Today and confirmed by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reported by Devdiscourse. Both meetings are seen as opportunities for the hosts to balance strategic competition with cooperation on shared interests.
"The world is going through a difficult time, but BRICS can act as a stabilising force," said former BRICS Sherpa Amitabh Bhattacharyya, quoted by The Tribune.
India’s Diplomatic Position
Domestic coverage portrays the summit as a diplomatic showcase for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who seeks to position India as a bridge between the Global South and the West. India Today highlighted Modi’s remarks that BRICS is “non‑Western, but not anti‑Western,” signalling an intent to engage constructively with all major powers.
China and India, according to Global Times, aim to prioritise “common agendas” such as energy transition, digital cooperation and reform of global governance institutions. The emphasis on sustainability, outlined by WION, aligns with India’s own climate commitments and its bid to attract green investment.
The summit’s schedule, detailed by organiser.org and CNBC TV18, lists a full roster of leader‑level meetings, ministerial dialogues and side events, culminating in a joint communiqué that is expected to reaffirm BRICS’ role in promoting multipolarity, reforming the United Nations system and enhancing economic resilience.
Analysts in India view the summit as both a test of Modi’s diplomatic bandwidth and an opportunity to cement New Delhi’s leadership within the bloc. With war in Ukraine, tensions in the Indo‑Pacific and a volatile climate agenda, the 18th BRICS summit is poised to become a focal point for shaping an alternative global narrative, as multiple outlets have reported.
