Modi meets leaders from seven nations on BRICS Summit sidelines
India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12-13 under the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.' Attendees included Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Prime Minister Modi held bilateral meetings with leaders from seven countries during the summit.
The summit's second day featured an open session with member and partner nations, while Modi conducted bilateral talks with leaders from South Africa, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Egypt, Burundi, Uganda, and Nigeria. The New Delhi Declaration was adopted unanimously, with Modi characterizing it as evidence of a grouping "wider in reach and stronger in purpose."
Thirteen world leaders attended, including Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. Discussions covered the Ukraine war, with Modi and Putin addressing Indian seafarers' safety. West Asia tensions required intensive Sherpa negotiations to reach consensus language, while the declaration condemned the Pahalgam attack. China remains the largest trading partner of every BRICS member, underscoring Beijing's economic weight within the bloc.
The summit's outcomes could shape how middle powers view BRICS as an alternative to Western-led institutions. India's bridge-builder positioning may influence regional dynamics, particularly in South Asia and Africa, where several partner nations participated. The grouping's ability to produce consensus on West Asia despite divergent interests could signal whether it can remain cohesive as it expands. However, China's economic dominance over all members may limit how much genuine multipolarity the bloc achieves.