Wars, global crises may top agenda of BRICS summit, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The 18th BRICS summit is being hosted by India in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are among the key leaders attending the summit.
• The summit agenda is expected to focus on global crises, including disruptions in energy and agricultural supply chains, exacerbated by conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine.
• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is making his first visit to India since taking office, with the West Asia conflict being a major discussion point.
• United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also scheduled to attend the summit.

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Detailed Insights:

• India holds the BRICS chairship for 2026, operating under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability".
• The expanded BRICS group now comprises 11 members, with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Indonesia having joined recently.
• A bilateral meeting between President Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anticipated to cover defense and other strategic matters.
• Discussions will also aim to strengthen multilateralism, boost intra-BRICS trade, secure critical supply chains, and enhance cooperation in technology, health, food, and energy security.
• The summit is expected to push for global governance reform, including in institutions like the UN Security Council, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank.
• The presence of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) representative underscores the regional tensions and their impact on global stability.
• President Pezeshkian and Prime Minister Modi previously met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek.

Key Concepts Involved:

• BRICS: An intergovernmental organization of 11 major emerging economies aiming for greater economic and geopolitical integration and to counterbalance Western-dominated institutions.
• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO): A Eurasian political, economic, and security organization established in 2001 to promote cooperation, peace, and counter-terrorism among its member states.
• Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): A political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries formed in 1981 to foster unity and cooperation based on shared identities and objectives.
• Multilateralism: The principle of cooperation among multiple countries on common issues, often through international organizations.