Policy Update
Pragya Raghav
Abstract
India hosted the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on 14-15 May 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, marking the first ministerial meeting of its 2026 chairship (MEA, 2026). Chaired by External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, the meeting brought together representatives of the eleven BRICS member countries and partner countries under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability” (BRICS India 2026). Discussions focused on global and regional developments, reform of the multilateral system, and cooperation under the BRICS@20 framework (Government of Brazil, 2026).
Held amid continuing conflict in West Asia and growing demands from developing countries for greater representation in global institutions, the meeting provided India with an opportunity to shape the political direction of an expanding BRICS. This paper argues that India’s central challenge is not simply to strengthen BRICS, but to make the grouping more effective without allowing its expansion and internal divisions to weaken its cohesion. India therefore used its chairship to advance a pragmatic form of Global South diplomacy, linking calls for reform of global institutions with areas of practical economic cooperation.
At the same time, differences among members, geopolitical rivalries, and fragmented payment mechanisms limit how far BRICS can move from political coordination to meaningful institutional action. The paper concludes that India’s success will depend on converting its chairship priorities into practical outcomes that preserve BRICS’ relevance, credibility, and unity ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit.
Keywords: BRICS, Global South, Multilateralism, India’s Chairship, Global Governance Reform, New Development Bank
Introduction
BRICS has gradually moved beyond its original focus on emerging economies and trade to become an important forum for cooperation among countries of the Global South, particularly on issues of global governance and institutional reform. India took over the BRICS chairship in 2026 from Brazil, marking its fourth term as chair after 2012, 2016 and 2021 (Newsonair, 2026). By mid-May, India had already hosted more than 80 meetings as part of its chairship programme (MEA, 2026).
The Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held on 14–15 May 2026 was the first major ministerial engagement of India’s chairship. Its timing was significant, as the meeting took place amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The crisis also became an early test of India’s ability to build consensus within an increasingly diverse BRICS. Through the Sherpa channel, India had been working to develop a common BRICS position on the conflict before the ministerial meeting (Newsonair, 2026). The meeting therefore offered an early indication of how India intends to balance its wider Global South agenda with the different interests and geopolitical positions of BRICS members.
Context
The meeting followed the first BRICS Sherpa Meeting in New Delhi in February 2026, where India’s BRICS Sherpa Sudhakar Dalela outlined the chairship’s people-centric and humanity-first priorities (Newsonair, 2026). It also followed the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting held on the margins of the 80th UNGA session in September 2025, chaired by India as the incoming chair, where ministers condemned the Pahalgam terror attack (Newsonair, 2026).
Held at Bharat Mandapam on 14 – 15 May 2026, the meeting was chaired by Dr Jaishankar and brought together ministers and heads of delegation from BRICS members and partner countries, who also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi (MEA, 2026). Discussions covered global and regional developments, resilience and sustainability under BRICS@20, and reform of global governance and the multilateral system, before concluding with a Joint Statement (MEA, 2026; MEA, 2026). More importantly, the meeting served as an early test of whether India could translate its chairship priorities into common positions within an increasingly diverse BRICS.
Analysis
Geopolitical and Strategic Shifts
The meeting came at a time when India was working with BRICS members to develop a common position on the conflict in West Asia. MEA acknowledged that this was difficult because some members were directly involved in the conflict and held differing positions (Newsonair, 2026). As chair, India used the Sherpa channel, including a virtual consultation in March 2026, to bridge these differences before the ministerial meeting (Newsonair, 2026).
In his welcome remarks, Jaishankar described a world “at a time of considerable flux,” marked by conflicts, economic uncertainty, and growing pressures around trade and technology (MEA, 2026). India’s approach was therefore less about securing complete agreement on sensitive geopolitical issues and more about keeping an increasingly diverse BRICS engaged through consultation and consensus.
Economic Implications and Opportunities
The Joint Statement reaffirmed the ministers’ support for a more agile, effective and representative multilateral system, with greater participation for developing and least-developed countries in global decision-making (MEA, 2026). Jaishankar also called for protecting the multilateral trading system from rising protectionism, tariff volatility and non-tariff barriers, while identifying technology, innovation, food and energy security, and digital transformation as key areas for India’s chairship (Newsonair, 2026).
These priorities provide India with an opportunity to connect its broader push for UN Security Council and multilateral reform with practical areas of BRICS cooperation. The meeting also advanced initiatives such as the BRICS Grain Exchange, efforts to strengthen cross-border payment systems, and a greater role for the New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement. Together, these measures can strengthen food security, reduce dependence on existing financial channels and support greater economic resilience among BRICS members. The 80-plus meetings organised during the chairship provide an institutional base for taking these priorities forward rather than leaving them at the level of political declarations (MEA, 2026; MEA, 2026).
Challenges and Structural Impediments
The difficulty of maintaining consensus remains one of the biggest constraints on BRICS. MEA itself noted that differences among members over West Asia complicated efforts to develop a common position (Newsonair, 2026). These differences were also reflected in the fact that the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting did not agree on a joint statement, highlighting the limits of consensus within an increasingly diverse grouping.
Expansion has made this challenge more pronounced. India’s own chairship discussions stressed that new members need to understand and support existing BRICS consensus, while the grouping is still undertaking a “stocktake and update” of its mechanisms (MEA, 2026). Managing an expanded membership alongside partner countries within a two-day ministerial meeting also leaves limited space to move from broad political commitments towards detailed implementation (MEA, 2026). The central challenge for India, therefore, is not expansion itself, but ensuring that a larger BRICS does not become a less coherent or less effective one.
India’s Role and Strategic Imperatives
India used the meeting to establish a clear identity for its chairship around a people-centric and humanity-first approach, a theme carried from the February 2026 Sherpa meeting into Jaishankar’s May remarks (Newsonair, 2026; MEA, 2026). A key focus of the Chair’s Statement was the need to reform global institutions to make them more representative, inclusive and responsive to the interests of developing countries, addressing the Western dominance that has historically shaped global decision-making (MEA, 2026).
By organising more than 80 meetings and facilitating consultations among Sherpas on West Asia, India demonstrated an active convening role rather than simply managing the chairship as a rotational responsibility (MEA, 2026; Newsonair, 2026). The next step is more demanding. India must turn this diplomatic credibility into tangible progress on UN Security Council reform, a more balanced multilateral system and the consolidation of BRICS institutions before the Leaders’ Summit later in 2026 (MEA, 2026). Its success as chair will ultimately be measured not by the number of meetings it hosts, but by whether these efforts produce outcomes that give the Global South a stronger voice in global decision-making and can be collectively implemented by the expanded grouping.
Policy Recommendations
The Foreign Ministers’ Meeting shows that India’s main task is to turn BRICS’ broad consensus into workable mechanisms. Ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit, India should therefore focus on the following steps:
1. Institutionalise the Sherpa-Level Consensus Process: Since MEA acknowledged that differences among members complicated a common position on West Asia, India should make the Sherpa consultations used before the FMM a regular mechanism for resolving contentious issues before they reach the ministerial level (Newsonair, 2026). This would allow members to identify areas of disagreement early and improve the chances of reaching meaningful consensus.
2. Complete the New-Member Stocktake Before the Summit: India should complete the “stocktake and updation” of BRICS mechanisms identified during its chairship and clarify how new members will participate in existing structures and consensus-building processes (MEA, 2026). Doing so would give the expanded grouping a clearer institutional framework before the Leaders’ Summit.
3. Turn Reform Commitments into a Common Position: The Joint Statement’s support for the UN Security Council and wider multilateral reform should be developed into a more specific negotiating position for the 18th BRICS Summit (MEA, 2026). India should identify areas of common ground among members and push for language that can support coordinated action beyond general calls for reform.
4. Give Partner Engagement a Practical Focus: India should build on its people-centric and humanity-first framing by creating a more structured engagement track with partner countries (Newsonair, 2026; MEA, 2026). Rather than limiting this engagement to dialogue, India could focus it on practical cooperation in areas such as development, technology, health and sustainability, giving BRICS’ expanding outreach greater substance.
Conclusion
The BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of 14–15 May 2026 demonstrated India’s ability to bring an expanded and increasingly diverse grouping together around a broad reform agenda, despite the difficulties of reaching consensus on contentious issues such as West Asia. The Joint Statement’s renewed support for UN Security Council and multilateral reform, along with more than 80 meetings organised during India’s chairship by May, reflects sustained diplomatic engagement rather than a one-off ministerial exercise.
However, India’s chairship will ultimately be judged by what it delivers beyond these commitments. Its immediate priority should be to complete the new-member stocktake, make Sherpa-level consultations a regular tool for managing disagreements, and turn the Joint Statement’s broad reform commitments into a clear negotiating position. The central test for India before the 18th BRICS Summit is therefore whether it can convert its strong convening role into practical outcomes that strengthen the grouping’s coherence, credibility and institutional effectiveness.
References
Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (2026, May 12). Transcript of weekly media briefing by the official spokesperson.
Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (2026, May 15). Special briefing by MEA on the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (2026, May 14). Welcome remarks by EAM at BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, New Delhi.
Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. (2026). Joint Statement of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations.
BRICS India 2026. (2026). BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held on 14–15 May 2026.
https://www.brics2026.gov.in/events/brics-foreign-ministers-meeting-held-on-14-15-may-2026
BRICS India 2026. (2026). Official website.
Government of Brazil, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2026). BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting: New Delhi, May 14–15, 2026.
Prasar Bharati News Services (Newsonair). (2026, February 10). First BRICS Sherpa Meeting begins in New Delhi under India’s chairship.
Prasar Bharati News Services (Newsonair). (2026, March 15). India engages BRICS nations to forge common stance on West Asia conflict: MEA.
Prasar Bharati News Services (Newsonair). (2026, February 11). EAM Jaishankar interacts with his BRICS counterparts in New Delhi.
Prasar Bharati News Services (Newsonair). (2026, September 27). BRICS Foreign Ministers condemn Pahalgam terror attack, urge zero tolerance for terrorism.
Prasar Bharati News Services (Newsonair). (2026, September 27). EAM S. Jaishankar calls upon BRICS to reinforce the message of peacebuilding, diplomacy in a turbulent world.
About the Contributor
Pragya Raghav is pursuing a B.A. (Hons.) in History at Mata Sundri College for Women, University of Delhi, with a minor in Political Science. She is passionate about public policy, international relations, governance, climate policy, and sustainable development. Through research and policy analysis, she aims to contribute to evidence-based policymaking and create meaningful social impact.
Acknowledgement
I would like to sincerely thank IMPRI (Impact and Policy Research Institute) for giving me the opportunity to work on this policy paper on the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting 2026 and examine its significance for global governance and the voice of the Global South. This research helped me better understand BRICS’ evolving role, India’s 2026 chairship, the challenges of building consensus among its diverse members, and the opportunities for greater cooperation on global governance reform. I am grateful to Arjun Sir and the entire IMPRI team for their guidance, support and valuable feedback throughout the research process. I would also like to thank my fellow interns and peers for their thoughtful discussions, suggestions and encouragement, which made this research experience both meaningful and enriching.
Reviewed by : Kaustav Majumdar and Gargi Bisht
Disclaimer : The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of IMPRI (Impact and Policy Research Institute) or any other affiliated organisation.
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