New Delhi: The national capital is set for a major diplomatic gathering as India hosts the 18th BRICS summit at Bharat Mandapam on September 12 and 13, bringing together leaders and senior representatives from the expanded 11-member grouping. The summit comes at a sensitive moment, with the Iran conflict, disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, the Russia-Ukraine war, trade tensions and questions over the future of global governance putting pressure on the international system.
“Over the next few days, leaders from across the world will gather for the BRICS Summit. I am fully confident that the summit will witness positive and meaningful discussions on various issues with the aim of global welfare,” the prime minister, Narendra Modi, said in a post on X ahead of the summit. He accompanied the message with a Sanskrit verse calling for friendship, cooperation and constructive engagement, setting the tone for India’s fourth BRICS chairship under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Who is attending the BRICS Summit 2026?
Several BRICS leaders and senior representatives are arriving in New Delhi on Friday ahead of the summit. The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian has arrived in the capital, while Nigerian vice president, Kashim Shettima; Ethiopian prime minister, Abiy Ahmed; Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi; UAE crown prince, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Malaysian prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim; Indonesian president, Prabowo Subianto and Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, are scheduled to arrive through the day.
UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres and New Development Bank president, Dilma Rousseff are also among the high-profile participants arriving on Friday.
The Brazil will be represented by foreign minister, Mauro Vieira, instead of president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, due to Brazil’s upcoming presidential election. Uruguay’s foreign minister, Mario Lubetkin, Thailand’s deputy prime minister, and foreign minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, and Cuba’s foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, are also scheduled to participate.
The Chinese president, Xi Jinping is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on Saturday, making his visit one of the biggest diplomatic highlights of the summit. His trip will be his first to India in seven years. Kazakh president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Vietnamese prime minister, Le Minh Hung and senior representatives from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Belarus and Uzbekistan are also expected to arrive on Saturday.
WTO director general, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and AIIB president Zou Jiayi are among the other international figures participating in the summit.
The expanded BRICS grouping now accounts for around 49.5 per cent of the world’s population, 40 per cent of global GDP and 26 per cent of global trade.
What is on the BRICS agenda?
India’s BRICS agenda focuses on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. Leaders are expected to discuss global governance, multilateralism, trade, investment, technology, food and energy security, healthcare and critical supply chains.
The September 12 closed-door session will focus on “Inclusive global governance and strengthening multilateralism”, while the September 13 open session will focus on inclusive global growth.
Economic cooperation will also be a key focus, with discussions on trade, investment, connectivity, technology, AI and supply chains. India is also pushing for smoother cross-border payments through greater interoperability between digital payment systems. Other proposals include a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund, a BRICS incubator network and a logistics framework to strengthen trade and supply chains.
Modi’s key meetings
The summit will also provide Modi with an opportunity for a series of bilateral meetings with major powers and regional partners. On Friday, Modi is scheduled to meet Putin, Pezeshkian and Antonio Guterres.
On Saturday, he will meet Ethiopian prime minister, Malaysian prime minister, UAE crown prince and Vietnamese prime minister.
The most closely watched engagement will be Modi’s meeting with Xi Jinping on Saturday evening. On Sunday, Modi is scheduled to meet the leaders of Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Egypt, South Africa and Burundi, along with the vice-presidents of Nigeria and Uganda.
Why the Putin-Modi meeting matters
Modi’s meeting with Putin is expected to focus on trade, energy, defence and investment. The two leaders could also discuss the Su-57 fighter aircraft and possible defence cooperation.
Trade and payment mechanisms are likely to be another key issue, particularly as India’s imports of Russian energy have increased bilateral trade. The meeting will also take place against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war and wider geopolitical changes.
Xi-Modi meeting after seven years
Xi’s visit is one of the biggest highlights of the Delhi summit as it marks his first trip to India in seven years. His meeting with Modi is expected to focus on the gradual improvement in bilateral ties, while also addressing unresolved issues involving the border, trade and market access.
The two sides are also looking at deeper economic engagement covering trade deficits, investment, visa restrictions and market access. Progress on the boundary issue, including military communication and border-management mechanisms, is another expected area of discussion. The meeting comes as India and China attempt to stabilize ties while significant mistrust remains. Energy security, the West Asia conflict and global trade policies could also form part of the wider conversation.
Pezeshkian brings Iran crisis into BRICS
Pezeshkian’s presence will put the West Asia crisis firmly on the summit table. Iran joined BRICS in 2024, and the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran has created one of the biggest tests for the expanded grouping since its enlargement.
The crisis has also exposed differences within BRICS. Iran and the UAE are both members of the grouping but have found themselves on opposing sides of the current regional conflict.
That divide could make it difficult for BRICS members to agree on common language for the New Delhi declaration.
Energy security has become one of the most urgent summit issues due to the conflict in Iran. The Strait of Hormuz is a key chokepoint for oil shipments worldwide, and a prolonged disruption there could have implications for energy prices, freight, insurance and supply chains.
The Indian nation especially requires safe maritime pathways due to the reason that India imports a significant amount of its crude oil requirements through its shipping sector.. Freedom of navigation and the safety of commercial shipping are therefore likely to feature prominently in India’s position. New Delhi has consistently called for dialogue and diplomacy in West Asia while stressing the need to protect commercial shipping, civilians and seafarers.
Delhi turns into a security zone
The arrival of multiple heads of state and senior officials has triggered a multi-layered security operation across the capital. Around 15,000 Delhi Police personnel and 200 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed, with security cover extending to Bharat Mandapam, hotels, VVIP routes and other sensitive locations.
Around 500 CCTV cameras have been installed across key areas, while security agencies are monitoring VVIP movement routes and coordinating surveillance through a central command structure.
Additional arrangements have been made along Delhi’s borders, while intelligence and specialized police units are monitoring potential cyber and social-media threats. Restrictions have also been imposed on drones and other small aerial platforms around the summit period.
In an interview, special commissioner of police, Manish Kumar Agrawal explained the security arrangements and urged civilians to follow traffic and security guidelines and cooperate with authorities during VVIP movements.
Schools and some government offices remained closed on Friday as authorities prepared for the movement of foreign leaders, official delegations and security personnel across Delhi. Traffic restrictions and diversions are also being implemented at several locations during the summit.