New Delhi, Sep 14: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has described India’s hosting of the 2026 BRICS Summit as a demonstration of New Delhi’s growing diplomatic influence, saying the country succeeded in bringing nations with differing strategic interests together at a time of heightened global tensions.
The two-day summit in New Delhi brought together leaders and representatives from BRICS member countries, partner nations and international organisations. According to Jaishankar, the event saw the participation of 32 delegations, including representatives of 11 BRICS members, 10 partner countries, four regional organisations and seven international institutions.
The gathering included several prominent world leaders, among them Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. UN Secretary-General António Guterres was also present.
Jaishankar said the scale of participation reflected India’s ability to convene countries despite growing geopolitical fragmentation.He noted that the international environment remains marked by conflicts, strategic rivalries and disagreements over trade, technology and security.
Against this backdrop, India sought to use the BRICS platform to promote dialogue and identify areas of common interest.A key outcome highlighted by the minister was the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration.
He said BRICS members were able to reach common positions on several international issues despite their differences.The situation in West Asia was among the major subjects discussed during the summit. The participating countries emphasised the importance of peace, stability and civilian protection, while also recognising the need to safeguard trade routes, energy supplies and global supply chains.
Jaishankar also underlined the importance given to the Global South during India’s BRICS chairship. Economic development, technology cooperation and reforms in global governance remained central themes, with India seeking a greater role for developing countries in international decision-making.
Terrorism was another issue highlighted by the External Affairs Minister. The New Delhi Declaration condemned the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack and reiterated the BRICS commitment to combating terrorism. India also stressed the need for accountability and opposed what it described as double standards in dealing with terrorism.
Jaishankar said the summit demonstrated that dialogue and cooperation remain possible despite deep divisions in the international system.For India, the summit offered an opportunity to reinforce its image as a country capable of engaging with different global power centres while advocating the interests of developing nations.
The minister, however, indicated that the significance of the summit would ultimately depend on how effectively the consensus reached by BRICS members is translated into practical cooperation.
The New Delhi summit has therefore been projected by India not only as a diplomatic gathering, but also as an effort to demonstrate that multilateral dialogue can continue even in an increasingly polarised world.
