NEW DELHI — World leaders, diplomatic delegations, and global economic policymakers have converged on New Delhi as India hosts the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit at the Bharat Mandapam convention complex from September 12 to 13, 2026, under the overarching theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
The summit—marking India’s fourth chairship of the bloc—serves as the primary forum for the expanded 11-member alliance (comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) to address trade fragmentations, cross-border payment mechanisms, supply chain vulnerabilities, and escalating geopolitical conflicts across Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar set the tone during the opening of the preparatory BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi, warning that the global political and economic order is undergoing deep instability. He emphasized that the bloc must focus on creating dependable logistics, transparent trade frameworks, and digital integration to absorb external shocks.
High-Profile Arrivals & Bilateral Engagements
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Russian Delegation: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi early Friday, September 11, holding bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss energy trade, defense cooperation, and regional security ahead of the main summit sessions.
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Middle East & African Representation: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed have arrived in the Indian capital. Vice President Kashim Shettima is leading Nigeria’s official observer and outreach delegation.
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China-India Bilateral Focus: Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to land in New Delhi on Saturday, September 12—marking his first official visit to India in seven years. A anticipated bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi on the sidelines aims to address border security along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and trade normalization.
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Global Observers: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and New Development Bank (NDB) President Dilma Rousseff are attending the outreach and multilateral governance sessions scheduled for Sunday.
