Russia Supports India's Leadership in BRICS for 2026

Russia has expressed its full support for India’s leadership of the BRICS group in 2026. BRICS is a group of five major emerging economies, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The group aims to promote cooperation in various areas, including economic development, security, and political collaboration. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on February 9, 2026, that Russia will actively support India’s agenda as the BRICS chair. He emphasized that Russia’s support will focus on important issues such as counter-terrorism and energy security. Lavrov mentioned that these are key areas for BRICS countries and require strong collaboration. He highlighted India's focus on fighting terrorism, especially describing problems in Afghanistan and along the India-Pakistan-Afghanistan corridor. Lavrov shared that Russia is working closely with India at the United Nations to create a global counter-terrorism convention. However, he noted that this draft convention has not yet reached full agreement among countries. Lavrov also pointed out India’s concern about energy security. He said this is especially relevant considering recent actions by the US administration in the global energy sector. India’s interest in energy highlights the importance of stable and secure energy supplies for economic growth. Additionally, Lavrov mentioned that India is focusing on information and communication technology (ICT) security. He noted that India plans to host an upcoming artificial intelligence (AI) summit, and Russia has been invited to participate. Both countries see AI as a key part of future technological development. Russia’s foreign minister stressed that BRICS members will not accept any infringement on their sovereignty regarding the use of AI in military applications. This indicates that each member country wants to maintain control over their national security and technological advances. Lavrov clarified that Russia does not support ending the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, or the World Trade Organization (WTO). Instead, Russia seeks reforms within these organizations to ensure they better reflect the real strength of BRICS countries in the global economy. This implies that Russia wants reforms that give more influence to emerging economies. He also reassured that Russia is not refusing to use the US dollar. Despite some US actions to weaponize the dollar against certain countries, Russia maintains that it will continue to use US currency when necessary. This indicates Russia’s balanced approach to international finance. In recent months, Russia and India have discussed strengthening cooperation on security and counter-terrorism efforts. In May 2025, officials from both countries talked about working more closely within BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). These discussions show ongoing efforts to improve collaboration on security issues. Furthermore, in December 2025, Russia officially pledged full support for India’s upcoming BRICS chairmanship. India formally took over the role on January 1, 2026. This leadership will include hosting the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled to be held in India in 2026. Hosting the summit gives India a chance to shape the agenda and priorities of the group. The BRICS Summit is an important event for member countries to discuss international issues and cooperation strategies. India's presidency is seen as an opportunity to push forward regional and global priorities, including economic reforms and security cooperation. Russia’s support for India’s leadership in BRICS reflects its commitment to maintaining strong relations with the member countries. It also highlights the importance of cooperation on global issues like terrorism, energy, and technology. The support aims to strengthen the group’s role in shaping future international policies. Overall, Russia’s active stance supports India’s efforts to lead BRICS in 2026. This collaboration among major emerging economies continues to shape the future of global development and security.