The 18th BRICS Summit is being held on September 12–13, 2026, at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, under India’s BRICS chairship.
-
- Key Leaders: President Vladimir Putin (Russia), President Xi Jinping (China), and President Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa)
- Expanded Members: Represented by top officials and leaders, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira represents Brazil as President Lula da Silva attends local elections.
- Core Agenda. Discussions on multilateral cooperation, economics, and reforming international institutions.
- Bilateral Meetings: High-profile sideline talks focusing on energy, commerce, and regional diplomacy.
Negotiators are working to finalise a consensus text covering regional security, trade, and financial frameworks. The media is already reading between the lines to extrapolate the summit outcome and the messages emerging out of bilateral talks.
Talked to Navbharat News
We talked about the following: –
The Modi-Putin bilateral (held 11 September 2026 on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi) treats defence, energy/trade, and the broader strategic partnership as interconnected priorities rather than ranking one as clearly dominant.
Technology-transfer expectations (especially around Su-57 production tech).
Expanding trade in national currencies and working to reduce dependence on the dollar.
On Trump-related tariffs and BRICS de-dollarisation challenging the dollar.
Sectors of greatest potential benefit for India.
India’s balancing policy.
BRICS de-dollarisation and Chinese-currency risk.
Biggest change in India-Russia relations over the next 2–3 years.
Link to the talk:-
Inputs provided to a journalist on the likely SU-57 deal
Q1: Is Russia backtracking from the earlier offer?
I wouldn’t call it backing away, backtracking, or a reversal. Instead, I’d call it Russia negotiating.
The original Russian pitch was unusually ambitious. In 2025, Russia reportedly offered India the Su-57E with local production and technology transfer, including production and long-term upgrade cooperation.
But there are several layers in the phrase technology transfer:
-
- transfer of assembly technology
- transfer of manufacturing processes
- transfer of maintenance/overhaul capability
- transfer of component manufacturing
- access to design documentation
- access to mission-system/software interfaces
- and, at the highest level, transfer of genuinely sensitive technologies such as stealth treatments, AESA technology, EW systems, propulsion and materials/process know-how
Peskov’s remarks do not indicate that Russia is retracting its Su-57 technology-transfer offer. They do, however, confirm that the phrase “technology transfer” is not a settled, unlimited commitment. Moscow appears to be distinguishing between a political offer of cooperation and the specific production technologies, source code, design data, and intellectual property India wants.
It depends on how much Russia is willing to share and at what cost.
- Should India buy the Su-57 off the shelf if production-tech transfer isn’t agreed?
The answer is no, as it does not serve the purpose. India’s interest is to become self-reliant while maintaining minimum deterrence. To achieve this aim, India doesn’t merely need another fighter aircraft. It needs quality platforms along with access to associated technology to advance its indigenous program.
India is simultaneously trying to develop AMCA as its indigenous fifth-generation fighter. The government has been moving the programme forward, with private-sector contenders now involved in the development/production process. Therefore, India shouldn’t allow the Su-57 to become a substitute for AMCA.
Bottom line: India should buy the Su-57 only if it comes with an industrial capability (at a reasonable cost), not merely an aircraft.
Video Bytes for Vistaar News
The video bytes cover the meaning and message of President Putin’s second visit to India in 9 months and his meeting with PM Modi before the BRICS summit.
Link to the Video Bytes:-
https://youtu.be/6mm-KSTsS-8?si=wFwU2pQ4FY03VQYN
New Delhi Declaration
Reportedly, the BRICS nations have unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026 on the opening day of the summit at Bharat Mandapam. Achieving a full consensus was hailed as a major diplomatic success, especially given deep geopolitical divisions and sharp initial disagreements between member states like Iran and the UAE.
Key declarations and takeaways from the joint document include:
- Geopolitical Conflicts & Middle East Restraint
-
- Call for Calm: The declaration urges restraint regarding escalating conflicts in West Asia and the Middle East, specifically highlighting a firm opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians.
- Peaceful Resolution: Member nations underlined the importance of preventing conflict, addressing root causes, and resolving international disputes through dialogue, consultation, and diplomacy.
- Sovereignty Protection: Leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasised the need to oppose sovereignty violations and interference in other nations’ internal affairs.
- Global Trade & Trade Protectionism
-
- Rejection of Unilateral Barriers: The document strongly condemns arbitrary trade restrictions and unilateral tariffs.
- Supply Chain Security: Members pledged to work collectively to maintain the smooth, unhindered flow of global trade, energy, and vulnerable supply chains.
- De-Dollarisation: The grouping reiterated its push for local-currency settlements in cross-border trade to reduce dependence on Western-dominated financial networks.
- Global Governance & WTO Reform
-
- UNSC Restructuring: The declaration calls for a “structural update” and reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to give the Global South a louder voice and better representation.
- WTO Dispute Mechanism: The bloc explicitly demanded the immediate restoration of a fully functioning, two-tier dispute settlement mechanism at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the swift appointment of new Appellate Body members.
- Public Health & Technical Cooperation
-
- Global Health Focus: In a significant healthcare push, the declaration formally recognises obesity and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) as major public health threats.
- Mental Health Initiatives: The text established a new mechanism to govern a network of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) aimed at integrating mental well-being and psychosocial interventions directly into primary healthcare systems.
Please Add Value to the write-up with your views on the subject.
For regular updates, please register your email here:-
References and credits
To all the online sites and channels.
Pics Courtesy: Internet
Disclaimer:
Information and data included in the blog are for educational & non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from reliable and accurate sources. All copyrighted material belongs to the respective owners and is provided only for wider dissemination.