BRICS Summit 2026: India’s Opportunity to Redefine the Bloc Beyond China-Russia Alignment
· World · Indian Express, rt
The BRICS summit in Chennai’s Bharat Mandapam on September 12, 2026, brings together leaders from nearly half the world’s population—representing 40% of global GDP and a quarter of global trade—including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian, China’s Xi Jinping, and the UAE’s indirect presence through regional dynamics. The gathering, hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, contrasts starkly with Western blocs, seating nations like Iran alongside the UAE without ideological convergence. The author argues India should shift focus from BRICS as a security or growth bloc to a platform for equidistant geopolitical choices, avoiding alignment with either the US or China. China’s dominance in shaping BRICS—through its Shanghai-based bank and push for new members—has left the grouping imbalanced, with Russia and Iran prioritising de-dollarisation amid sanctions. The real test lies in whether India introduces a transformative idea or merely hosts existing agendas.
Why it matters
For India, this summit is a strategic inflection point to either reinforce its role as a neutral power broker or risk being sidelined in a bloc increasingly defined by China’s economic and Russia’s geopolitical interests. The outcome could reshape global trade dynamics, particularly for nations like India seeking alternatives to dollar-dominated systems, and influence the balance of power in Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern diplomacy.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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