India steers 18th BRICS summit deftly, keeps anti-West rhetoric at bay

India successfully convened the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, while deftly avoiding anti-West rhetoric. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the eleven member states to adopt a unanimously agreed-upon declaration that avoided naming the United States, despite President Donald Trump's subsequent threat of up to 100 percent tariffs on the bloc.

India managed to prevent China and Russia from taking an overly confrontational stance, keeping the summit from becoming a battleground against the West. The New Delhi Declaration, while expressing concern over unilateral tariffs and sanctions, avoided naming any specific Western powers. Diplomatic sources revealed that Russia, China, and Iran pushed for sharper language against the dollar and Western financial institutions, but India insisted on a balanced text to preserve its strategic partnerships.

The omission of specific mentions of the United States and President Trump led to Washington's combative response, threatening tariffs and trade retaliation. The EU, however, took a cautious approach, viewing India's chairmanship as evidence of multi-alignment and a potential challenge to Western dominance in diplomacy and global governance.