India Assumes BRICS Chairmanship, Prepares for 18th Summit in New Delhi
Primary region BRICS
Tags Diplomacy · Economy
Regions BRICS · Asia
India formally assumed the BRICS chairmanship on January 1, 2026 under the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,' and will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi later in 2026 — India's fourth time as chair. India plans to convene both BRICS and QUAD Foreign Ministers meetings in May 2026, highlighting its dual engagement with multipolar and Indo-Pacific frameworks. The bloc now comprises 11 full members and 10 partner countries, with Turkey actively seeking full membership with China's backing. France's President Macron expressed support for India's presidency during a call with PM Modi, hinting France may attend the summit.
Strategic interpretation
India's dual hosting of BRICS and QUAD meetings in the same month is strategically deliberate — it signals that New Delhi is not choosing between East and West but leveraging both frameworks to maximize autonomy. The potential French attendance at a BRICS summit, if confirmed, would be geopolitically extraordinary and signal European hedging against over-reliance on US-led institutions.