Key Highlights:

  • Experts described BRICS as an increasingly important platform for Global South cooperation on the summit's second day.
  • SWFI Chairman Lakshmi Narayanan highlighted progress on India-China border issues and a goal to expand India-Russia trade to $100 billion.
  • Defence expert Ranjit Rai called the Delhi Declaration significant for global security and reinforcing a multipolar world order.
  • Rajshekhar Joshi noted BRICS represents over half the world's population and around 40% of global GDP.
  • Industry leaders praised India's hosting of the summit as a boost to its global diplomatic and economic profile.

A Second Day Focused on Strategic Substance

Trade, investment, strategic cooperation and the broader vision of a multipolar world dominated discussions on the second day of the 18th BRICS Summit, with experts and industry leaders describing the grouping as an increasingly important platform for Global South cooperation.

Addressing the Tariff Challenge Collectively

Speaking to IANS, SWFI Chairman and IBRICS 2026 Lead Co-Chair Lakshmi Narayanan offered a pointed observation on the origins of current tariff-related challenges facing many economies, arguing that these pressures were not created by BRICS nations themselves but rather stemmed from the broader global trade environment, particularly the impact of US policy decisions. He said BRICS members had agreed to address these challenges collectively through cooperation and coordinated economic action, rather than each member attempting to navigate the pressures independently.

Three Key Outcomes From the Summit

According to Narayanan, three specific outcomes emerged from this year's summit that carry particular significance. These included efforts to boost both bilateral and multilateral trade among member nations, positive progress toward resolving longstanding border-related issues between India and China, and an understanding reached between India and Russia to expand their bilateral trade to $100 billion. Narayanan suggested these developments could meaningfully strengthen both economic and strategic cooperation across the BRICS grouping going forward, framing them as concrete, actionable progress rather than purely symbolic diplomatic gestures.

Why the India-China and India-Russia Developments Matter

The mention of progress on India-China border issues is particularly notable given the historically tense nature of that relationship, suggesting that multilateral platforms like BRICS may be providing useful diplomatic space for bilateral issues to advance incrementally, even outside formal bilateral negotiating channels. Similarly, the India-Russia trade target of $100 billion signals a substantial ambition for economic engagement between the two countries, one that would represent a considerable expansion from current trade levels if achieved.

IBRICS as a Bridge to Business Outcomes

Narayanan also highlighted the specific role of IBRICS as a platform designed to translate summit-level discussions into tangible investments, projects and business opportunities, positioning it as a practical complement to the more diplomatic and declarative outcomes typically associated with the main BRICS Summit proceedings.

The Delhi Declaration's Security Significance

Defence expert Ranjit Rai offered his own assessment of the summit's outcomes, describing the Delhi Declaration adopted during proceedings as an important document for global security and international cooperation. He noted that the event had given world leaders an opportunity to gain a closer understanding of India, while also reinforcing the broader need for collective action on issues such as climate change, security and economic development. "BRICS' original objective is to strengthen a multipolar world order, where global decision-making is not limited to a few countries," Rai told IANS, echoing a theme that has run consistently through India's chairship messaging this year.

BRICS's Scale as a Global South Bloc

Former Vice Chairman of the SETU Commission, Rajshekhar Joshi, emphasised the sheer scale of BRICS as a representation of Global South interests, noting that the grouping now accounts for more than half of the world's population and around 40 per cent of global GDP. This scale, he suggested, positions BRICS as one of the most influential examples of Global South cooperation currently in existence, a bloc whose collective economic and demographic weight gives it substantial leverage in shaping global governance discussions.

Industry Voices on India's Hosting

Beyond the strategic and economic analysis, industry representatives also offered praise for India's execution of the summit itself. Indo Wings Private Ltd CEO Paras Jain said India's management of the event had enhanced the country's global profile, reflecting well on its capacity to host large-scale international diplomatic gatherings. Nick Booker of Indogenius added that the participation of global leaders at the summit reflected India's growing importance in international diplomacy and economic engagement, reinforcing a broader narrative that has accompanied India's fourth BRICS chairship: that the country is increasingly positioned as a central convening power within global multilateral forums, rather than merely a participant in them.