New Delhi: Leaders of BRICS countries are gathering in the Indian capital on Saturday for their 18th summit, against the backdrop of the continuing US-Iran conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war.
The two-day meeting comes as the US-Iran war enters its seventh month, with its wider economic fallout contributing to an energy crisis and intensifying concerns over global energy security, trade and inflation. The Russia-Ukraine war, meanwhile, is in its fifth year.
On the eve of the gathering, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he hoped the summit would produce “positive” and “meaningful” discussions.
China also underlined the need for diplomacy, saying it looked forward to “working with fellow BRICS countries to promote dialogue and negotiation to resolve differences, and jointly safeguard regional and global peace and stability.”
The summit brings together leaders and senior officials from the expanded 11-member grouping. Alongside the five original BRICS members — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — the bloc now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali are among the leaders attending.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is also attending, while Brazil is represented by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Saudi Arabia by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
On Saturday, BRICS leaders will hold a closed-door session under the theme “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism.”
The programme also includes a visit to the Bharat Innovates Exhibition, a tree-planting ceremony and a gala dinner hosted by Modi.
Second day to focus on global growth
BRICS has also expanded its wider framework by welcoming partner countries, including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Officials and leaders from several partner and invited countries are attending the New Delhi gathering, including Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Representatives from Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Cuba, Belarus, Uruguay and Bahrain are also participating.
The second day will feature an open session titled “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth.”
BRICS leaders are expected to conclude the summit by issuing a joint statement.
According to figures cited by BRICS, the expanded grouping accounts for approximately 49.5% of the world’s population, 40% of global GDP and 26% of global trade.
The previous BRICS summit was held in Rio de Janeiro in 2025.