Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi, welcoming leaders from China and Russia among others. The summit marks a significant moment for India as it seeks to strengthen ties with both traditional allies like the US and new partners such as China, despite ongoing tensions over issues like trade and the border dispute. With BRICS expanding to 11 members, including Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia, and Egypt, internal divisions are becoming more pronounced. Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his first visit to India since 2019, called for mutual learning and cooperation between China and India during bilateral talks on the summit's sidelines. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal urged BRICS nations to link payment systems and trade in local currencies to reduce dependence on dominant global financial powers. As BRICS members discuss economic and geopolitical strategies, they face challenges of aligning diverse interests while attempting to establish a counterbalance to American-led global order.
