BRICS, which came together twenty years ago with the aim of serving as the collective voice of rising powers in the global economy, has today emerged not only as an economic cooperation platform but also as an influential geopolitical actor in the reshaping of the international system. The summit to be hosted by India in 2026 further reinforces the symbolic significance of this transformation. This is because the summit coincides with the 20th anniversary of BRICS’ founding and, while assessing the bloc’s two-decade journey, also outlines its vision for the future.

Often viewed in many Western analyses as a “temporary economic formation,” BRICS has evolved into a structure that encompasses a significant share of global production and energy resources, represents nearly half of the world’s population, and, through its expansion, is shifting the centre of gravity in international politics. The accession of new members from Egypt to the United Arab Emirates and from Ethiopia to Iran, along with the inclusion of major economies such as Indonesia, and the fact that dozens of countries are lining up for membership, demonstrate that BRICS is no longer merely a platform comprising just five countries.

The most striking aspect of this situation is that BRICS has grown without exerting pressure on any country, imposing ideological conditions, or operating on the logic of a military alliance. Furthermore, it should not be forgotten that throughout its 20-year history, BRICS has never marginalised any country, organisation, or civilisation. Unlike the bloc-based approach of the Cold War era, BRICS offers a new model of international cooperation in which countries can come together to pursue common development goals while preserving their own sovereignty. For this reason, interest in BRICS today is fueled not only by economic expectations but also by the search for an alternative to the current global order.

With its expanding structure, BRICS has become one of the most important economic and geopolitical power centres in the global system. The BRICS countries have a combined population of approximately 3.9 billion, accounting for about 48% of the world’s population. In this regard, BRICS is one of the largest international cooperation platforms, encompassing nearly half of humanity.

In terms of economic size, the BRICS countries account for approximately 40% of global gross domestic product (GDP) based on purchasing power parity (PPP). Their share of nominal GDP stands at approximately 29%. Furthermore, the BRICS countries have long since surpassed the G7 countries in terms of purchasing power parity. In 1995, the BRICS countries’ share of global gross national income was 16.9 percent, while that of the G7 countries was 44.9 percent. By 2023, the BRICS share had risen to 32.1 percent, while the G7’s share had fallen to 29.9 percent. Today, the BRICS’ contribution to global growth has also exceeded 50 percent. Holding nearly 50 percent of the world’s foreign exchange reserves, the BRICS countries account for approximately 24 percent of world trade and cover about 36 percent of the world’s land area.

These figures demonstrate that BRICS has not only emerged as a rising actor in the global economy but has also become a decisive one. Furthermore, the group’s establishment of the $100 billion New Development Bank and the $100 billion Contingent Reserve Arrangement concretely demonstrates BRICS’s determination to create alternative institutions within the global financial architecture. To date, more than 30 countries have applied for membership in the BRICS New Development Bank. Furthermore, one-third of the 500 companies on the Fortune Global 500 list are based in BRICS countries.

The BRICS countries, which hold 60% of the world’s mineral reserves, also wield significant influence in the energy sector. Member countries account for approximately 31% of global oil production and hold approximately 28% of proven oil reserves and 55% of natural gas reserves. Russia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, in particular, are key players that enhance BRICS’ strategic importance in energy security. Furthermore, in the production of rare earth elements, BRICS countries led by China and followed by Brazil, Russia, and India rank among the top producers globally.

In terms of agriculture and food security, BRICS is also a major global production hub. Member countries account for approximately 45% of global agricultural production, about 40% of wheat production, and roughly 55% of rice production. Consequently, BRICS holds an indispensable position in the industrial and energy sectors and in the global food supply.

The BRICS family is the most diverse organisation after the United Nations. The mottos “Our Differences Are Our Strengths” and “Unity in Diversity” best summarise BRICS. BRICS is a more cosmopolitan, wealthier, and more attractive group than the G7. The BRICS platform, whose influence in the global system is growing day by day, is now a more vibrant and appealing family.

With its new members, BRICS is an actor that brings together three continents, unites seven civilisations, and is home to many religions. BRICS is also home to various branches of Christianity, Sunni and Shia interpretations of Islam, and Latin, African, Russian, Arab, Persian, Hindu, and Confucian civilisations. It encompasses diverse societal and social models. For years, the BRICS formation has served as an antidote to the West’s “Clash of Civilisations” thesis, now embodying the concept of a “Union of Civilisations.” BRICS is a human-centred, democracy-based, multicultural, pluralistic, diverse, and multifaceted civilizational force. This is because it possesses values, norms, and traditions distinct from those of the West. This also demonstrates that it is a centre of cultural power. BRICS countries are pioneers of intellectual change and transformation in many fields worldwide. The influence of these centres encompasses everything from our intellectual world to our political systems, and from our cultural codes to our eating and drinking habits. Despite all these differences, a continuity and sustainable coordination, dialogue, and cooperation have been established among BRICS members. We must recognise BRICS’s contribution to world peace, global prosperity, and the unity of nations.

That said, BRICS is not an anti-Western but rather a non-Western grouping. In other words, it harbours no opposition or hostility toward the West. This is because BRICS has never singled out or demonised any Western country. In fact, BRICS, considered the true pioneer of multilateralism, operates in accordance with its commitment to the central role of the Western-originated United Nations. For this reason, the BRICS structure was not established in opposition to the United States, the European Union, or even NATO. Today, BRICS countries continue to maintain intensive commercial, economic, and diplomatic relations with the United States and Europe.

All these indicators clearly demonstrate that BRICS is not merely a platform composed of developing economies; rather, with its population, production capacity, energy resources, natural wealth, and financial instruments, it has become one of the most important actors in a multipolar, multicultural world that influences the balance of power in the international system.

At the centre of this new era stands India. Having emerged in recent years as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, India has become an indispensable player in the global balance of power—not only because of its population but also due to its capabilities in technology, digital transformation, space exploration, the defence industry, and manufacturing. As one of the leading advocates for the “Global South,” India is playing an active role in building a multipolar and multicentered world while maintaining its relations with the West. Hosting the 20th BRICS Summit is a natural consequence of this strategic position.

India’s most significant achievement in foreign policy is its ability to maintain relations with different power centres simultaneously. While developing cooperation with the U.S., Europe, and the QUAD countries on one hand, it maintains its defence ties with Russia on the other; and despite its competition with China, it is able to act in concert with China on platforms such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. This multifaceted approach to diplomacy has made India one of the most important balancing actors in today’s international system.

For this reason, the 2026 summit should not be viewed merely as a routine BRICS leaders’ meeting. The summit serves as an important diplomatic showcase where India will demonstrate its capacity for global leadership. Among the key topics New Delhi is expected to bring to the agenda are the expansion of trade in national currencies, the diversification of supply chains, the development of common standards in artificial intelligence and the digital economy, energy security, climate finance, and greater representation of developing countries in international financial institutions.

In fact, this is precisely where the key factor enhancing BRICS’ appeal lies. Many developing countries believe they are not fairly represented in the international financial system, that credit mechanisms can be used as tools of political pressure, and that global governance institutions reflect the post-World War II distribution of power. BRICS, on the other hand, is striving to provide concrete solutions to this dissatisfaction through initiatives such as the New Development Bank, alternative payment systems, and trade in local currencies. Therefore, the interest shown in the bloc stems not only from the search for economic partnership but also from the demand for a more equal voice in the global system.

The fact that so many countries from different regions of the world are seeking to join BRICS today is the clearest indication of this reality. Many nations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East aim to create new economic and diplomatic options without completely severing their ties with the West. It is precisely at this point that BRICS enhances its appeal by offering a “both-and” approach rather than an “either-or” mindset.

The alliance’s twenty-year journey is also the story of shifting global power dynamics. The international system is no longer governed by rules dictated by a single centre. The centre of gravity for production, trade, energy routes, technology investments, and population is gradually shifting toward Asia. As India emerges as one of the strongest representatives of this transformation, BRICS is also strengthening its claim to serve as the institutional framework for this new geo-economic reality.

Of course, BRICS also faces significant challenges. Political differences among member countries, border disputes, debates over a common currency, the management of an expanding membership, and the effectiveness of decision-making processes will be key factors shaping the bloc’s future. Despite these challenges, BRICS’ continued growth demonstrates that it addresses a genuine need within the international system.

The 20th-anniversary summit to be hosted by India will therefore not be merely a gathering to take stock of the past. The summit can be viewed as a new milestone in the institutionalisation process of a multipolar, multicultural world. If BRICS deepens its economic cooperation, successfully integrates new members, and transforms its joint projects into tangible results, it could play a much more decisive role in the global power architecture over the next twenty years.

It is clear that the twenty-year journey of BRICS, which equally represents the world’s most populous and longest-established non-Western nations, is not merely a story of economic growth. On the contrary, it is a concrete indication of the shift in the global centre of power from the West toward Asia and the Global South. India, as one of the most dynamic actors in this transformation, is not only set to successfully host the 2026 summit but also to assert its claim to be among the countries shaping the search for a new international order. The growing appeal of BRICS is especially significant at this juncture: the world is no longer a unipolar, monocultural structure. The new structure is moving toward a more balanced and pluralistic international order shaped collectively by diverse power centres. The 20th-anniversary summit to be held in India is poised to go down in history as one of the most important milestones in this long process of transformation.