18th BRICS Summit Set To Begin In New Delhi Today

The 18th BRICS Summit is set to begin at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today. The two-day grand event will bring together eleven major emerging and developing economies, including Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, India, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the UAE.

During the high-level event, leaders of the BRICS member countries are expected to discuss key issues, including global governance, multilateralism, trade and investment, technology, food and energy security, healthcare, disaster resilience, and critical supply chains. The Summit is being held under India’s 2026 BRICS chairship, with the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

Several key world leaders will participate in the high-profile Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be joined by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will also take part in the Summit. Brazil will be represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira, while Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, will also attend.

The Summit will begin with a closed session for BRICS member countries on “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism.” Leaders of the BRICS member countries will also visit the Bharat Innovates exhibition at Bharat Mandapam. This will be followed by a joint tree-planting ceremony and a gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Modi.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to hold a series of bilateral talks with BRICS leaders on the sidelines of the Summit today. These include meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

New Delhi has taken centre stage for BRICS 2026, with world leaders converging at a time when there is global churn and instability. The Leaders meet at the backdrop of conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region, energy crisis, and climate change. BRICS has emerged as a key platform for coordinating economic policy among major emerging economies. It serves as the principal forum where these nations shape a common position on global governance. Through sustained dialogue, it has become a channel for advancing the interests of the Global South within multilateral institutions. Its agenda spans development, finance, technology, trade and people-to-people exchanges.

The grouping reflects the growing economic weight and aspirations of emerging economies globally.  India’s Chairship is guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The theme places development, sustainability and innovation at the heart of the agenda. It also highlights the aspirations of the Global South.