World leaders and representatives from BRICS member states and partner countries have begun arriving in New Delhi, India, for the group’s 18th Summit, scheduled for September 12–13 at Bharat Mandapam.
The BRICS bloc, an international geopolitical and economic organization, now comprises 11 major emerging markets and developing nations: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. Together, they represent nearly 49% of the world’s population and about 40% of global GDP.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the arrival of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the early hours of Friday. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is expected later in the day, while Chinese President Xi Jinping will land on Saturday at 12:15 p.m., marking his first visit to India in almost seven years. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Ugandan Vice President Jessica Alupo are already in New Delhi.
Nigeria will be represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, standing in for President Bola Tinubu. The UAE delegation will be led by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, while Brazil’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira will attend on behalf of his country.
Other prominent participants include UN Secretary-General António Guterres, New Development Bank President Dilma Rousseff, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, and Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye. Leaders from Asia such as Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will also be present.
Further attendees include Uruguay’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mario Lubetkin, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Cuba’s Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Belarusian Foreign Affairs Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, Bahrain’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
The summit theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability,” underscores the group’s ambition to strengthen multilateralism and foster inclusive global growth.
The schedule begins with a closed-door session on “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism” for core BRICS members. Leaders will also tour the Bharat Innovates Exhibition, take part in a joint tree-planting ceremony, and attend a gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will hold several bilateral meetings throughout the summit.
On Sunday, Modi will welcome leaders from partner countries and outreach invitees for a broader session focused on “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth.”
With 11 member nations and 10 partner countries in attendance, the 18th BRICS Summit brings together nearly half of the world’s population and a significant share of global economic output, positioning New Delhi at the center of international diplomacy this weekend.
