Shashi Tharoor Defends BRICS Summit, Says It Gives India Key Global South Platform

September 11, 2026

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has defended the importance of the upcoming BRICS summit in New Delhi, saying the grouping gives India a valuable platform to engage with the Global South and strengthens its diplomatic influence.

Tharoor’s comments come amid a difference of opinion within the Congress, after party colleague and former finance minister P Chidambaram questioned whether recent BRICS summits had produced any significant results.

Tharoor Highlights BRICS’ Global Reach

Speaking to news agency PTI on Thursday, Tharoor said the expanded BRICS grouping brings together 11 major countries from the Global South and represents a substantial portion of the world’s population and economy.

He said the grouping provides an important forum for countries with diverse interests and views to come together. According to Tharoor, the 11 BRICS members collectively account for a majority of the world’s population and around 41 per cent of global GDP.

Hosting Summit Shows India’s Diplomatic Influence

Tharoor also stressed the significance of India hosting the BRICS summit, with several world leaders arriving in New Delhi for the two-day meeting.

He said the presence of heads of state and government from BRICS countries as well as partner nations reflects India’s ability to bring major international players together.

Tharoor described this “diplomatic convening power” as valuable for India’s standing on the global stage.

Chidambaram Questions Tangible Benefits

Tharoor’s remarks came a day after P Chidambaram raised questions about the outcomes of recent BRICS meetings.

Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Chidambaram said he did not believe the last two or three BRICS summits had produced tangible benefits for India. He also pointed to India’s membership in platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, G20 and Quad, questioning what concrete gains the country had received from these groupings.

Chidambaram, however, noted that earlier BRICS summits had resulted in some tangible benefits.

Salman Khurshid Calls for Caution, BJP Reacts

Former external affairs minister and Congress leader Salman Khurshid urged the party to view Chidambaram’s remarks as a word of caution rather than criticism. He said taking the concerns in the right spirit could help India achieve better outcomes from the summit.

The BJP, meanwhile, criticised the Congress over Chidambaram’s comments, arguing that the BRICS summit reflects India’s growing position and influence in global diplomacy.

BRICS Summit Begins September 12

The 18th BRICS Summit is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. The grouping currently includes Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the UAE.

The 11-member bloc accounts for around 49.5 per cent of the global population, 40 per cent of global GDP and 26 per cent of global trade.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are among the key leaders expected to attend. Putin arrived in New Delhi on Friday and is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the summit.

With India holding the BRICS chairmanship, attention will now be on whether the summit can translate its diplomatic significance