BRICS Summit 2026: Modi to Host Putin, Xi and Other Global Leaders in New Delhi

Yugcharan News / 10-09-2026

New Delhi is preparing to host one of the year’s most closely watched diplomatic gatherings as leaders from the expanded BRICS grouping arrive in the national capital for the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit on September 12 and 13. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will welcome heads of government and state from the BRICS member countries, along with leaders from partner and outreach nations, for discussions on global economic and geopolitical issues.

India is holding the BRICS chairmanship in 2026, making the summit particularly significant for New Delhi’s foreign policy and its effort to strengthen its role in shaping discussions among emerging economies. The main summit will take place at Bharat Mandapam, where leaders are expected to deliberate on multilateralism, trade, investment, energy and food security, supply-chain resilience and reforms in global governance.

The gathering comes at a time of considerable international uncertainty, with geopolitical tensions, economic pressures and disruptions affecting trade and energy markets. Against this backdrop, BRICS is expected to provide a platform for member countries to discuss areas of common interest while also addressing differences within the increasingly diverse grouping.

Among the most prominent leaders expected in New Delhi are Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Their participation gives the summit additional diplomatic weight, particularly as India continues to balance relationships with major global powers while pursuing its policy of strategic autonomy.

Expanded BRICS Leadership to Gather in Delhi

The BRICS grouping has undergone substantial expansion in recent years. What began in 2006 with Brazil, Russia, India and China later expanded with South Africa joining in 2010. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates became members in 2024, while Indonesia subsequently joined as a full member.

The expanded grouping now has 11 full members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The leaders and senior representatives expected to participate include Xi Jinping of China, Vladimir Putin of Russia, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

The UAE is expected to be represented by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, while Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira is expected to represent Brazil.

The participation of leaders from countries with different economic models, geopolitical priorities and strategic interests highlights the increasingly broad nature of BRICS. India’s challenge as chair will be to maintain a workable agenda that accommodates these differences while pushing forward areas where members can cooperate.

Partner and Outreach Countries Also Expected

The summit programme will not be restricted to the 11 full members. A number of BRICS partner and outreach countries are also expected to participate.

The list includes Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Ugandan Vice-President Jessica Alupo are also expected to attend.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is set to be the top UN official participating in the summit.

The presence of partner and outreach countries reflects the wider effort within BRICS to develop relationships beyond its core membership. Such participation can broaden discussions on trade, development, investment and international cooperation and give countries outside the full membership an opportunity to engage with the grouping.

Business Forum to Set the Economic Tone

Before the leaders’ summit begins, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi on Friday, September 11.

The business gathering is expected to bring together senior corporate representatives from China, Russia, Brazil, the UAE and other BRICS economies. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are also expected to address the opening session.

The discussions are expected to cover several areas central to the economic relationship among BRICS countries, including agriculture, international trade, investment, supply chains and the digital economy. The business meetings are expected to lead into a leaders’ session that will be addressed by Modi.

The emphasis on business and investment is important because economic cooperation remains one of the central objectives of the BRICS platform. With member economies representing a substantial share of the developing world, improving trade links, investment flows and supply-chain cooperation could provide practical outcomes beyond political declarations.

Major Chinese Corporate Delegation in India

A sizeable Chinese business delegation is visiting India ahead of the summit, adding an important commercial dimension to the event.

Among the prominent Chinese business figures expected to participate are Houliang Dai, chairman of China National Petroleum Corporation, Lin Liao, chairman of ICBC, and Min Wan, chairman of China COSCO Shipping Corporation.

Senior executives from major technology companies Huawei Technologies and Alibaba Group are also expected to participate.

The Chinese delegation is likely to focus on areas including trade, investment, technology and supply-chain cooperation. Their presence comes as India and China continue to explore economic engagement while managing a complex broader relationship.

The participation of major companies from technology, banking, energy and shipping could create opportunities for business-to-business discussions during the summit-related meetings.

Global Corporate Leaders to Join Forum

The BRICS Business Forum is also expected to attract prominent corporate leaders from several other member countries.

Francisco Gomes Neto, president and CEO of Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, Gustavo Pimenta, CEO of mining giant Vale, and Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, CEO of Naspers, are among the business leaders expected.

Russia is expected to be represented by Oleg Belozerov, CEO and chairman of Russian Railways, and Alexander Vedyakhin, first deputy chairman of Sberbank.

The companies represented cover a wide range of sectors, including aviation, mining, energy, banking, shipping, technology and transportation. Their participation underlines the effort to connect diplomatic discussions with commercial opportunities.

Security Tightened Across Delhi

With several high-profile international leaders arriving in the capital, Delhi has put in place a major security operation for the summit. Thousands of security personnel are expected to be deployed across key locations, including airports, hotels and the Bharat Mandapam venue.

The arrival and movement of foreign dignitaries are expected to require extensive coordination between security agencies and local authorities. Traffic arrangements and restrictions are also likely to affect movement in parts of the city during the summit period.

The security preparations reflect the scale of the gathering, with heads of state and government from multiple countries attending events at locations across the capital.

India’s BRICS Presidency and the Larger Diplomatic Picture

India assumed the BRICS chairmanship on January 1, 2026, a year that also marks the 20th anniversary of the grouping. The country has previously held the BRICS presidency in 2012, 2016 and 2021.

For New Delhi, the 2026 summit provides an opportunity to highlight its diplomatic priorities while bringing together countries that do not always share the same position on international issues.

The summit is expected to address major global challenges, including economic and geopolitical developments affecting member countries. Discussions on energy and food security, resilient supply chains, investment and global governance are likely to be particularly important amid continuing uncertainty in international markets.

The presence of both major powers and emerging economies also makes the summit an important venue for bilateral diplomacy. Leaders attending the gathering can use their time in New Delhi for separate meetings on issues of mutual interest, potentially giving India an opportunity to deepen ties with individual countries alongside the larger multilateral agenda.

As the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit approaches, attention will therefore extend beyond the formal meetings at Bharat Mandapam. The outcome of the discussions, business engagements and bilateral interactions could help determine how the expanded BRICS grouping evolves and what practical role it seeks to play in the international system.

With India in the chair, New Delhi will be looking to turn the summit into a platform for stronger economic cooperation, wider diplomatic engagement and a greater voice for emerging economies in global decision-making.