BRICS Summit 2026: From Vladimir Putin to Xi Jinping, Who’s Coming to Delhi for PM Modi’s Big Summit?
World leaders and top diplomats from across the expanded BRICS bloc are converging on New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit, taking place on September 12 and 13 at the Bharat Mandapam venue.
World leaders and top diplomats from across the expanded BRICS bloc are converging on New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit, taking place on September 12 and 13 at the Bharat Mandapam venue. Hosted under India’s 2026 chairship by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the high-profile gathering coincides with the 20th anniversary of the grouping's founding and marks India's fourth turn leading the summit.
The two-day summit brings together member countries, partner nations, and international organizations to address global economic governance, trade local-currency settlements, energy security, and supply chain resilience. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Arrives in Delhi to Attend BRICS Summit.
Key Leaders Attending the 18th BRICS Summit
The summit features representation from the expanded 11-member alliance alongside regional invitees and global governance heads:
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India (Host): Prime Minister Narendra Modi
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Russia: President Vladimir Putin
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China: President Xi Jinping
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South Africa: President Cyril Ramaphosa
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Iran: President Masoud Pezeshkian
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Egypt: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
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Ethiopia: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali
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Indonesia: President Prabowo Subianto
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United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
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Brazil: Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira (representing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva)
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Saudi Arabia: Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud
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United Nations: Secretary-General António Guterres
Outreach participants and invited leadership include Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Ugandan Vice President Jessica Alupo, Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima, alongside top representatives from partner states and international institutions such as the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization. BRICS Platform for Mutual Cooperation: Russian Deputat Abhay Kumar Singh.
Bilateral Meetings and Geopolitical Context
The gathering unfolds against the backdrop of global trade shifts, supply chain recalibrations, and geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Several notable bilateral discussions are scheduled on the sidelines of the summit.
Prime Minister Modi is conducting individual meetings with key counterparts, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, focusing on bilateral trade channels and energy connectivity. Additionally, Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit represents his first trip to India in seven years, providing an opportunity for both leaders to review border management discussions along the Line of Actual Control and evaluate trade ties.
Summit Theme and Key Deliverables
Operating under India’s chairship theme of "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability," discussions cover digital trade frameworks, cross-border payment integration using national currencies, artificial intelligence governance, and expansion support for the New Development Bank (NDB). The leaders' consensus declaration is expected at the conclusion of the summit sessions on September 13.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 11, 2026 03:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
