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Modi urges Global South to shape rules at BRICS summit in New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a two-day BRICS summit in New Delhi on Saturday, bringing together leaders from major developing economies to address global challenges affecting the Global South. The gathering seeks to protect emerging markets from the economic fallout of regional conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia.

LSN India · 12 September 2026

Modi urges Global South to shape rules at BRICS summit in New Delhi

Modi welcomed a high-level gathering of world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping to India's capital for the annual summit. The conference also drew Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and representatives from Malaysia, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Egypt and Vietnam, alongside leaders from the UAE and international organizations.

The summit's focus centered on enhancing the voice and influence of developing nations in global governance. Modi's emphasis on the Global South becoming a 'rule shaper' rather than merely a rule-taker reflected growing demands from emerging economies for greater representation in international decision-making forums.

A significant international presence marked the occasion, with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attending alongside leaders from the New Development Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Their participation underscored the broader implications of BRICS discussions for the global economic and health landscape.

India's BRICS presidency shaped the summit's agenda around priorities affecting developing economies, particularly their resilience amid geopolitical tensions. The two-day deliberations were expected to yield outcomes addressing economic cooperation, development financing, and coordinated responses to international crises impacting emerging markets.