Modi and Lula exchange a potted sapling during a diplomatic event. Credit: Ricardo Stuckert

NNA News - The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on 12 and 13 September is expected to take place without Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is remaining in Brazil because of the country's election campaign, according to Brasil 247.

Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira is expected to represent Brazil at the summit. In an analysis of the upcoming meeting, Brasil 247 argues that, despite Lula's absence, the New Delhi summit could be one of the most important meetings for BRICS as the grouping moves from expansion towards consolidation. The analysis points to the expansion of BRICS as one of the factors shaping the meeting. The grouping now has 11 full members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.

India is hosting the summit under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. According to India's official programme, discussions will cover political and security issues, economic and financial cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Brasil 247 reports that the New Delhi meeting is expected to place greater attention on areas including development financing, trade, local-currency payments, artificial intelligence, science and technology, energy, food security and infrastructure.

The expansion of BRICS has also increased the diversity of interests represented within the grouping. The Brazilian analysis therefore focuses on the question of how the enlarged membership can consolidate cooperation and develop its existing institutions. Brazil's position on financial cooperation is also part of the discussion.

Vieira has rejected the characterisation of BRICS as an anti-Western alliance and has disputed suggestions that the group is seeking to establish a common currency. “I think it is a mistake to say that BRICS is seeking to promote de-dollarisation or create a new currency. It is not,” Vieira said, according to Brasil 247.

He said discussions around payments were instead concerned with facilitating trade between countries. “It is not about moving away from the dollar; it is about creating new ways to promote trade and having a fast, direct and, of course, cheaper system for bilateral trade between countries,” Vieira said.

China has also outlined areas it wants BRICS to address during the summit. Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong said Beijing supports India's chairship and greater cooperation among the expanded membership, including in energy and mineral resources, infrastructure, industrial and supply chains, financial cooperation, food systems and artificial intelligence. “Maintaining sound coordination between our two countries is conducive to the steady and sustained progress of greater BRICS cooperation, and will better safeguard the common interests of developing countries,” Xu said.

India and China are expected to receive particular attention during the summit following efforts by the two countries to improve bilateral relations. South Africa will also be represented by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The South African Presidency said its participation will focus on issues including trade and investment, financial and institutional cooperation, global governance reform and the interests of the Global South.

The New Development Bank, established by BRICS to finance infrastructure and sustainable development, is also part of the grouping's institutional framework. For Brazil, Lula's decision to remain in the country means that its participation in New Delhi will take place at ministerial level. Brasil 247 argues that this does not remove Brazil from discussions over the future direction of BRICS, with Vieira representing the government at the summit.

The meeting will also mark the final BRICS summit under India's current presidency before China takes over the rotating presidency in 2027. The New Delhi summit will consequently bring together the expanded BRICS membership as the grouping discusses how to deepen cooperation across economic, financial, technological and development areas.