NEW DELHI — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened the 18th BRICS Summit today in Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, welcoming leaders and partners from across the globe.

The two-day international event, running from September 12–13, 2026, places India at the centre of critical conversations surrounding global economic reform, geopolitics, and developmental sustainability.

Speaking from a podium branded “BHARAT”, Prime Minister Modi emphasised the core pillars of India’s 2026 chairship theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Co-operation and Sustainability”.

A ‘Humanity-First’ Approach

Under India’s leadership, this year’s summit is championing a “humanity-first” and “people-centric” approach to global governance. The primary objective of the meetings is to significantly strengthen cooperation across the Global South. Leaders aim to amplify the collective influence of developing and emerging economies on the world stage, challenging traditional Western-dominated economic models.

Key discussion topics expected to dominate the two-day summit include:

• De-dollarisation: Accelerating trade frameworks utilising local and alternative currencies to reduce dependence on the US Dollar.
• Infrastructure & Resource Access: Addressing maritime trade limitations and infrastructural deficits for landlocked partner nations.
• Sustainable Innovation: Coordinating technological and green energy transitions tailored to the financial realities of developing states.

The Evolving Power Grid

Originally founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China—with South Africa joining in 2010—the coalition has significantly expanded its global footprint. Following two major waves of expansion in 2024 and 2025, the bloc now commands a staggering 40 per cent of global GDP and represents nearly half of the world’s total population.

This massive demographic and financial footprint positions the New Delhi summit as a potential turning point for international trade, challenging traditional multilateral institutions like the G7 and IMF.

The summit continues through tomorrow, with leaders expected to sign a joint New Delhi Declaration outlining unified economic strategies and institutional reforms before the weekend concludes.

GLOBAL REACTION TO OPENING STATEMENTS

The opening statements at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi immediately established the platform as a direct counterweight to Western geopolitical and economic hegemony.

Despite internal fractures within the expanded 11-nation bloc, member states rapidly aligned to issue the New Delhi Declaration, signalling a highly coordinated front.

The primary global reactions and thematic alignments stemming from the opening addresses include:

• Striking Back Against Western “Double Standards”

Host Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a defiant tone for the Global South by forcefully calling out the “double standards” of established international bodies.

• Modi asserted that current global institutions are outdated, failing to reflect modern geopolitical and economic realities.
• He urged the bloc to dismantle the global “pyramid of privilege” and transform it into a “platform of partnership”, making developing nations rule-shapers rather than passive rule-takers.

• Defiance and Condemnation of Unilateral Actions

The presence of expanded members like Iran heavily influenced the summit’s geopolitical posture.

• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a fiery speech of defiance against the United States, stating Iran would not yield to US-Israeli military manoeuvers.
• The bloc collectively pushed back against Western financial leverage. The final joint declaration directly condemned unilateral sanctions not explicitly authorised by the UN Security Council. Though no nations were explicitly named, this was viewed globally as an overt defense of member states like Russia and Iran, which are heavily restricted by Western-led embargoes.

• A Call for a “Third Golden Decade” of Multipolarity

China seized the opening remarks to emphasise long-term economic integration away from Western dependencies.

• Chinese President Xi Jinping called on BRICS nations to “stand on the right side of history”.
• He pitched the expansion as the gateway to a “third golden decade” of BRICS cooperation, emphasising fairer global wealth distribution, smooth trade corridors, and supply chain security free from tariff blackmail.

• Overcoming Fractures for Middle East Consensus

Diplomats globally viewed the initial day as a major test of the bloc’s stability, particularly due to deep-seated tensions between new members like the UAE and Iran over ongoing regional conflicts. However, negotiators successfully unified the members. The summit’s opening phase successfully pressured all 11 nations to back a unanimous demand for immediate restraint in the Middle East and voice firm opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians.