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BRICS 2026: New Countries Joining, De-Dollarization Push, India Hosting the Summit, and How BRICS Could Challenge the G7

BRICS is no longer just a coalition of emerging economies. As the world moves closer to the BRICS 2026 Summit, the bloc is rapidly transforming into a major pillar of the multipolar global order. With expanding membership, growing conversations around de-dollarization, and alternative financial systems taking shape, BRICS is redefining global power dynamics.

With India set to host the BRICS 2026 Summit, expectations are high. Many analysts believe this summit could mark the moment when BRICS moves from ambition to execution, reshaping global finance, trade, and governance.

BRICS 2026 summit showing member country flags, India hosting, and global economic shift away from the US dollar


This article explores:
  • Which countries are joining BRICS by 2026
  • How de-dollarization could impact global finance
  • India’s strategic role as BRICS 2026 host
  • BRICS vs G7 comparison
  • Key predictions for 2026 and beyond

Understanding BRICS in 2026: From Emerging Bloc to Global Power Center

BRICS was originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to amplify the voice of emerging economies in global governance. By 2026, BRICS represents a scale that is impossible to ignore:
  • Over 40% of the world’s population
  • Nearly one-third of global GDP (PPP basis)
  • A dominant share of global energy producers and consumers
What makes BRICS 2026 fundamentally different from earlier summits is its strategic maturity. The bloc is no longer only calling for reforms in Western-led institutions—it is actively building parallel financial, trade, and development systems.

Countries Joining BRICS by 2026: Expansion Becomes

One of the most significant developments shaping BRICS 2026 is membership expansion. The bloc is opening its doors to countries that strengthen its economic, energy, and geopolitical influence.

Countries Likely to Be Active BRICS Members by 2026
  • Saudi Arabia – global energy dominance and oil pricing influence
  • United Arab Emirates (UAE) – financial power, trade, and logistics hub
  • Iran – vast energy reserves and strategic geography
  • Egypt – gateway to Africa and the Middle East
  • Ethiopia – long-term African growth potential
  • Argentina – resource-rich South America (subject to political alignment)

Countries Expected to Seek Membership or Observer Status

  • Indonesia
  • Nigeria
  • Türkiye
  • Thailand
  • Kazakhstan

Prediction:

By 2026, BRICS is likely to adopt a tiered membership model, including:

  • Full members
  • Strategic partners
  • Observer states
This structure will allow expansion without internal paralysis, preserving cohesion while increasing influence.

De-Dollarization: The Core Economic Agenda of BRICS 2026

De-dollarization is one of the most discussed - and misunderstood - topics surrounding BRICS.

Contrary to popular belief, BRICS is not planning to replace the US dollar overnight. Instead, BRICS 2026 focuses on reducing dependency, not eliminating the dollar entirely.

Key De-Dollarization Measures Expected by 2026

  • Increased trade settlements in local currencies
  • Expansion of currency swap agreements
  • Strengthening the New Development Bank (NDB)
  • Development of alternative payment systems to reduce SWIFT reliance

What BRICS Is NOT Doing

  • Launching a single BRICS currency in 2026
  • Ending dollar usage globally

Prediction:

Between 2026 and 2028:
  • 20–30% of intra-BRICS trade may bypass the US dollar
  • Energy trade among BRICS nations will increasingly use local currencies
  • Central banks will gradually diversify reserves away from the dollar
This transformation will be evolutionary, not revolutionary.

India Hosting BRICS 2026: A Strategic Balancer Role

India’s role as the host of BRICS 2026 is geopolitically crucial. Unlike many other members, India maintains strong relationships with:
  • The United States and Europe
  • Russia
  • China
  • The Global South

This positions India as a bridge power rather than a confrontational force.

India’s Likely Priorities at BRICS 2026

  • Digital public infrastructure (UPI-like global payment models)
  • Climate finance and sustainable development
  • Fair trade and supply-chain resilience
  • Preventing BRICS from becoming an overtly anti-West bloc

Prediction:

India will push BRICS toward:
  • Pragmatic cooperation, not ideological confrontation
  • Economic development over military alignment
  • Institutional reforms rather than symbolic declarations
India’s leadership may determine whether BRICS becomes a credible global alternative or a fragmented coalition.

BRICS vs G7: Competing Visions of Global Leadership

The BRICS vs G7 comparison has intensified as global power shifts east and south.

AspectBRICSG7
Economic ModelEmerging growth economiesAdvanced industrial economies
Population Share40%+~10%
Growth OutlookFaster long-termSlower, mature
Currency SystemMulti-currencyDollar-centric
Global NarrativeMultipolarStatus-quo driven


Key Difference:

  • G7 focuses on maintaining existing global rules
  • BRICS seeks to reform global institutions
Prediction:

By 2030:

  • BRICS will rival G7 economically (PPP terms)
  • G7 will retain technological and financial dominance
  • Global governance will require BRICS–G7 coexistence, not confrontation

Challenges BRICS Must Overcome by 2026

Despite growing momentum, BRICS faces real challenges:

  • China–India strategic tensions
  • Diverse political systems and national priorities
  • Risk of expansion reducing cohesion
  • Western sanctions on some members

Prediction:

BRICS will avoid becoming a military or ideological bloc. Instead, it will evolve into:

  • A development-focused economic alliance
  • A coordination platform for the Global South
  • A pressure group for global institutional reform

What BRICS 2026 Is Likely to Deliver

Expected outcomes of the BRICS 2026 Summit include:

  • A clear and structured expansion framework
  • Stronger lending capacity of the New Development Bank
  • Increased use of local currencies in trade
  • A coordinated stance on global financial reform
  • Greater global visibility for the Global South

BRICS 2026 may not shock the world - but it will lock in long-term structural change.


Final Prediction: Where BRICS Is Headed After 2026

BRICS is not trying to replace the West.
It is trying to rebalance the world.

By the late 2020s, BRICS is likely to:
  • Become the primary economic voice of the Global South
  • Reduce Western monopoly over global finance
  • Influence trade, energy, and development norms
  • Shape a more multipolar geopolitical order
BRICS 2026 will be remembered as the moment when ambition turned into architecture.