New Delhi is set to host the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12-13, drawing prominent world leaders to the Indian capital for discussions and bilateral engagements. The summit, held in New Delhi, will see participation from leaders representing a significant portion of the global population and economy.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the summit will feature attendance from leaders of BRICS member states and invited partner countries. Among the high-profile attendees are Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. These leaders are also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the summit.
President Xi Jinping, who has led China since 2013, is making his presence felt in India following previous visits for summits in 2019, 2016, and 2014. His last informal summit with Prime Minister Modi was in Mamallapuram near Chennai in 2019. Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key figure in global politics since 2012, will also engage in bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Modi. Russia, a founding member of BRICS, has historically maintained strong ties with India, as evidenced by their annual summits.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, re-elected in June 2024, will attend the summit and meet with Prime Minister Modi. His prior engagements in India include being a State Guest of Honour for the 70th Republic Day celebrations in January 2019. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who assumed office in 2024, will participate in the summit amid a dynamic West Asian geopolitical landscape, with his visit expected to attract considerable international attention.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is also scheduled for a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi. President El-Sisi has had multiple engagements in India, including a State visit in January 2023 and as Chief Guest for the 74th Republic Day celebrations. He previously attended the 3rd India Africa Forum Summit in October 2015 and visited on a State visit in September 2016.
The summit’s agenda also includes participation from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. These leaders will use the occasion to strengthen bilateral ties and discuss cooperation with India. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be represented by its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, while Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will also attend, continuing a series of high-level engagements between the UAE and India.
Further international representation at the summit includes Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira. Several other vice presidents and foreign ministers from countries such as Uganda, Nigeria, Cuba, Belarus, Vietnam, and Kazakhstan are also expected to participate, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. These include Vice President of Uganda Jessica Alupo, Vice President of Nigeria Sen. Kashim Shettima, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Maxim Ryzhenkov, Prime Minister of Vietnam Le Minh Hung, and President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
BRICS, initially composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has undergone significant expansion. In 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia joined the bloc, with Indonesia following suit in 2025. Further expansion saw Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam become partner countries. The group now represents approximately 49.5 per cent of the global population, about 40 per cent of the global GDP, and around 26 per cent of global trade, underscoring its economic and demographic significance.
India’s presidency of BRICS for the year 2026 is guided by the theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.’ This theme reflects Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a people-centric approach rooted in the principle of ‘Humanity First.’ India, a founding member, is chairing the bloc for the fourth time, having previously held the position in 2012, 2016, and 2021. The year 2026 also marks the 20th anniversary of BRICS’ establishment.
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