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Transition Was Formalized in Brasília at the 4th Sherpas Meeting and Anticipates the 2026 Agenda, with India Promising Continuity and New Work Axes
Brazil formalized, on the last day of December 12, 2025, the transmission of the rotating presidency of BRICS to India during the closing of the 4th Sherpas Meeting, held in Brasília.
The change comes after a year in which the bloc sought to show practical deliveries while trying to maintain cohesion in a global scenario of trade disputes, geopolitical tensions, and demands for reforms in international governance.
India takes the baton with the image of an ascending power, supported by growth above 6% per year in projections from organizations and economic reports, in addition to an increasingly digital economy connected to investments from large technology companies.
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The political gesture also carries symbolism for Brazil, which has been using the presidency to advocate for multilateralism, expand partnerships, and consolidate the Global South agenda, while BRICS repositions itself after recent changes in the group.
Transfer of BRICS Presidency to India in Brasília
The passing of the presidency was made by Brazil’s sherpa, Ambassador Mauricio Lyrio, to India’s sherpa, Ambassador Sudhakar Dalela, with the handing over of the hammer that symbolizes the command of the grouping, according to the official BRICS Brazil portal.
Still at the closure of the meeting, Lyrio stated that the recent debates reinforced the commitment to strengthen cooperation among member countries and partners, and expressed hope for the continuation of the progress achieved during the Brazilian mandate.
What the Indian Presidency Promises for the BRICS Agenda in 2026
On the Indian side, Dalela praised the Brazilian leadership and indicated that India intends to maintain a working logic based on continuity, consolidation, and consensus, as stated in a communication released within BRICS.
In practice, the transition already signals a focus on maintaining the momentum of the ongoing initiatives, without “restarting” discussions with each annual change of presidency, which is often a challenge in multilateral forums.
According to information associated with the Brasília meeting, the Indian presidency structured priorities in four axes that include terms such as resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability, seeking to provide a clearer umbrella for projects and deliveries.
Despite the ceremony, Brazil continues to formally exercise the presidency until December 31, 2025, and India will take command of the bloc starting January 1, 2026, according to communications and reports that followed the transition.
The expectation among diplomats and analysts is that India will use the 2026 cycle to reinforce global governance themes while simultaneously pushing issues in which it is already heavily investing, such as digital transformation, infrastructure, and economic cooperation.
India, Fastest-Growing Country, and Why This Changes the Weight of the Block
India has been pointed out as the large economy with the strongest growth in recent projections, with estimates above 6% per year in various international reference reports.
Part of this momentum has been associated with the size of the domestic market, a relatively young population, and policies for digitalizing services, factors that sustain an expansion less dependent on external trade than other economies.
Economic research reports have also projected that India may reach third place among the largest economies in the world by around 2030, depending on the criteria used and the growth trajectory in the coming years.
Furthermore, recent announcements of investment in digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence reinforce the perception that the country is trying to transform growth into productivity and technological capacity, expanding its economic and diplomatic influence during its presidency of BRICS.
Assessment of the Brazilian Presidency and the Themes That Remain on the Table
In the assessment of the Brazilian year, the presidency emphasized a broad agenda, with fronts that covered cooperation in health, climate, trade and finance, peace and security architecture, institutional development, and even artificial intelligence governance, according to communications published within BRICS.
Lyrio also highlighted, in closing evaluations, that the turbulent international scenario pressured multilateral cooperation, but that BRICS sought to function as a space for dialogue and building bridges between different interests.
In the end, the change of command raises a practical question for 2026: with India in the presidency and the bloc larger, will BRICS prioritize economic and technological deliveries or tend to be more marked by global political disputes?
If you are following the topic, comment: Does India’s presidency strengthen BRICS or increase the risk of the bloc becoming more rhetoric than results? And Brazil, did it gain influence in 2025 or come out “smaller” in the final picture?
Graças ao BRICS o Brasil saiu fortalecido
Pix neles
Sobre o mandato do BRICs presidido pela Índia, o resultado vai depender da capacidade da índia em manter o bloco unido pelo mesmo propósito evitando assim possíveis rupturas… O que os adversários do BRICs mais desejam.
O Brasil soube usar muito bem seu mandato e sem sombra de dúvidas saiu muito mais fortalecido.