India’s BRICS Presidency Showcases Growing Diplomatic Influence and Consensus-Building Power
India’s hosting of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi has emerged as an important diplomatic achievement, with US-based analyst Michael Kugelman describing the summit as a success and highlighting India’s ability to build consensus among countries with significantly different interests.
Kugelman, a Senior Fellow for South Asia at the Atlantic Council, said the adoption of a substantive joint declaration on the first day of the summit demonstrated New Delhi’s growing convening power. The summit was held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13 under India’s chairship, bringing together the expanded 11-member BRICS grouping. The bloc now represents nearly half of the world’s population and around 40 per cent of global GDP.
New Delhi Declaration Reflects Broad Consensus
The unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration was among the most significant outcomes of the summit. Covering issues ranging from global governance and international trade to terrorism, technology, sustainable development and geopolitical conflicts, the declaration demonstrated that BRICS members could find common ground despite their differences.
The declaration reaffirmed BRICS’ commitment to multilateralism and called for reforms in global institutions so that developing countries have a greater voice in international decision-making. It also stressed the importance of sovereign equality, cooperation and a more representative international order.
The agreement was particularly notable because the expanded BRICS includes countries with diverse political, economic and strategic interests. Reaching consensus among such a broad membership strengthened the significance of India’s role as the host and chair.
India’s Convening Power Comes to the Fore
India’s ability to bring different countries together was a central feature of the summit. The grouping includes major powers such as China and Russia as well as newer members with different regional priorities. Despite these differences, the summit produced a common declaration and advanced cooperation across multiple areas.
The Indian government said more than 50 concrete outcomes were achieved during its BRICS chairship. More than 400 meetings and engagements involving ministers, parliamentarians, officials, experts and businesses were held across 30 Indian cities during the year.
This wider engagement helped give India’s chairship a practical dimension, taking BRICS discussions beyond the leaders’ summit and involving institutions, businesses and experts in areas of common interest.
Focus on Trade and Economic Cooperation
Economic cooperation remained an important pillar of the summit. BRICS members expressed concern over unilateral tariffs and other trade restrictions, while emphasising the need for a more predictable and inclusive global trading system.
The declaration also supported efforts to increase trade and investment among member countries, including through greater use of local currencies and improved cross-border payment mechanisms. These discussions reflect the growing interest among emerging economies in strengthening financial resilience and reducing vulnerabilities caused by disruptions in global trade.
For India, strengthening economic links within BRICS also provides an opportunity to expand markets for Indian businesses while encouraging cooperation in areas such as technology, finance, energy and critical supply chains.
Global South Gains Greater Voice
A major theme of India’s BRICS chairship was strengthening the voice of developing countries in global institutions. The New Delhi Declaration reiterated the need for reforms in international organisations, including greater representation for emerging and developing economies.
The summit also highlighted cooperation in areas that directly affect the developing world, including food and energy security, healthcare, climate action, technology and sustainable development. This emphasis reinforces BRICS’ evolving role as a platform through which emerging economies can collectively present their priorities on global issues.
Terrorism and Global Security Remain Key Priorities
Security issues also featured prominently in the summit discussions. BRICS leaders reaffirmed their opposition to terrorism and emphasised the importance of international cooperation, conflict prevention and peaceful resolution of disputes.
The declaration also addressed conflicts and instability in different parts of the world, reflecting the grouping’s attempt to maintain dialogue despite divergent positions among its members. The ability to include security-related issues alongside economic and developmental priorities demonstrated the increasingly broad agenda of BRICS.
A Stronger Platform for India’s Global Engagement
The summit also provided India with an opportunity to engage directly with major global powers. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were among the prominent leaders attending the New Delhi summit. Their participation added weight to the gathering and underscored India’s position as an important platform for dialogue among major emerging powers.
At the same time, the summit demonstrated that BRICS is not without challenges. Differences among members on geopolitics, economic priorities and the future direction of the grouping remain significant. Turning broad declarations into concrete cooperation will therefore be crucial for maintaining momentum.
The MGMM Outlook
India’s BRICS chairship has demonstrated its growing ability to bring together countries with diverse political, economic and strategic interests. The successful adoption of the New Delhi Declaration, along with more than 50 reported outcomes and extensive engagements across different sectors, reflects India’s diplomatic capacity to build consensus and keep discussions focused on shared priorities. By placing greater emphasis on the Global South, economic cooperation, technology, security and institutional reforms, India has used its BRICS leadership to strengthen dialogue among emerging economies.
The New Delhi Summit also reinforces India’s position as an important bridge among major global powers and developing nations. While differences within BRICS will remain, the ability to reach common ground on such a broad agenda is significant. India’s approach has shown that BRICS can serve not only as a platform for expressing the concerns of emerging economies but also as a space for practical cooperation. The challenge now is to translate the consensus achieved during the chairship into sustained initiatives and meaningful outcomes.
(Sources: The Hindu BusinessLine, The Economic Times, DD India)
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