18th BRICS Summit begins in New Delhi under India's 2026 chairship

Kazakhstan's President and Bahrain's FM arrived in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit, hosted by India under its 2026 chairship. Leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026, focusing on innovation, sustainability and future cooperation.

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani arrived in India on Saturday to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, as the two-day gathering of the expanded grouping gets underway under India's 2026 chairship.

India is hosting the summit on September 12-13 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, with development, sustainability and innovation forming key areas of focus.

The arrivals come as BRICS leaders and partner countries gather in the national capital for discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation across development, finance, technology, trade and people-to-people exchanges.

New Delhi Declaration 2026 Adopted

Earlier at the summit, BRICS leaders unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing the outcome as a reflection of a BRICS that is “wider in reach and stronger in purpose”.

In a series of posts on X, PM Modi said the declaration focuses on innovation, sustainability and people-to-people ties, with the aim of making cooperation “more practical, development-oriented and responsive to the aspirations of the BRICS nations”. “I thank all the fellow BRICS nations and their leaders for its adoption,” the Prime Minister said.

Focus on Future Technologies and Cooperation

PM Modi said the declaration also looks firmly towards the future, with BRICS set to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence, Digital Public Infrastructure, quantum technologies, startups, MSMEs, science and research. “The Declaration also looks firmly to the future. BRICS will deepen cooperation in AI, Digital Public Infrastructure, quantum technologies, StartUps, MSMEs, science and research,” he added.

He added that the grouping would strengthen the New Development Bank and work together on food, health, energy security, strong supply chains and sustainable infrastructure.

Summit Highlights Two Decades of BRICS

As BRICS marks two decades of its evolution, India also released two commemorative postage stamps during the summit. The stamps celebrate the evolution of BRICS as a platform for dialogue and cooperation and capture the priorities of India's BRICS Chairship 2026 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability".

The summit also highlighted India's emphasis on environmental sustainability, with Prime Minister Modi and BRICS leaders jointly planting saplings of the Banyan tree at the summit venue. The Banyan tree has deep-rooted significance in Indian civilisation, thought and culture and symbolised the collective resolve of BRICS nations to advance environmental sustainability and leave a greener legacy for generations to come.

Expanded BRICS and Partner Countries

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, departed from India after attending the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

The summit has brought together BRICS members and partner countries as India seeks to advance its priorities under its 2026 chairship and strengthen the grouping's role as a platform for cooperation among major emerging economies.

BRICS currently comprises 11 countries -- Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the UAE. In 2025, Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam joined BRICS as Partner Countries.

The 18th BRICS Summit is being held in New Delhi on September 12-13, with India's chairship centred on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. (ANI)

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