The 18th BRICS Summit, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 13 September 2026 under India's chairship, drew extensive coverage from leading international publications, which framed the two-day gathering as a landmark moment in a shifting global order. Prime Minister Narendra Modi secured a significant diplomatic breakthrough, steering 10 full BRICS members and Saudi Arabia toward a strongly worded joint declaration despite deep divisions over the escalating Middle East conflict.

The Joint Declaration and Middle East Tensions

The Japan Times reported that the summit's joint statement stopped short of naming specific countries but called for 'restraint and for the avoidance of actions that could further aggravate the situation.' The declaration raised 'serious concern over deliberate attacks' on civilian infrastructure and nuclear facilities — diplomatic language that, according to analysts, reflects the bloc's effort to project unity without fracturing over individual members' bilateral alignments.

Al Jazeera noted that BRICS nations unanimously adopted the joint declaration, which also underscored the importance of collective efforts to ensure 'the uninterrupted flow of global trade, supply chains and energy' — a direct response to disruptions caused by wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. The outlet observed that India assumed the 11-member bloc's presidency at a 'difficult moment,' with tariffs squeezing members and BRICS countries at odds over how to address either conflict.

Modi's Vision: 'Coming of Age' for BRICS

In his opening remarks at the BRICS leaders' meeting, Prime Minister Modi urged the bloc to adopt an ambitious 20-year vision and build mechanisms to ensure continuity and implementation of its decisions. 'Today, BRICS has reached a moment of coming of age. Over the past two decades, the grouping has shaped its unique identity on the global stage. We respect each other's positions and move forward based on consensus,' Modi said. He added that the time had come to 'transform our unity and consensus within BRICS into tangible results on the global stage.'

BRICS Business Forum: Trade, Tech and MSMEs

On the economic front, the BRICS Business Forum brought together business leaders, ministers and heads of state to exchange views on trade, investment, finance, technology and development challenges confronting BRICS economies. According to reports, its conclusions and the BRICS Business Council's recommendations are regularly reflected in summit declarations, particularly in areas such as intra-BRICS trade, the digital economy, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), standards cooperation and value chain integration.

US Press: Modi vs Xi — Who Speaks for the Global South?

Major American publications framed the summit through the lens of great-power rivalry. The New York Times noted that the central question hanging over the gathering was 'whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Chinese President Xi Jinping would emerge as the more influential voice of the developing world.' The Wall Street Journal observed that uncertainty in both India's and China's relationships with the United States had created space for the two nuclear-armed neighbours to ease bilateral tensions — a notable geopolitical subtext to what was officially a multilateral development forum.

This comes amid a broader reconfiguration of global alliances, with BRICS now comprising 11 members after its 2024 expansion and representing a significant share of global GDP and population. The summit's ability to produce a consensus statement — even a carefully hedged one — on the Middle East signals that the bloc retains diplomatic utility even as ideological fault lines deepen. All eyes now turn to how the bloc's decisions translate into follow-up action under India's continued stewardship.