BRICS Summit in New Delhi today: Key leaders, agenda and what’s in store on Day 1
BRICS Summit in New Delhi: Day One Agenda
Theindiapostdaily.com – The BRICS Summit in New Delhi begins on 12 September as India hosts leaders at Bharat Mandapam for a two-day meeting amid significant geopolitical uncertainty. India is chairing this year’s summit under the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi are among the expected participants. The programme includes formal discussions among member states as well as bilateral meetings led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
With the US-Iran war and wider Middle East tensions shaping the international environment, the gathering places global governance, technology and cooperation among emerging economies high on the agenda. It also highlights the differing strategic priorities within the expanded BRICS grouping.
Bilateral meetings set the tone
Prime Minister Modi’s day is scheduled to begin with meetings at Hyderabad House from 10 am. His planned engagements include Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
Modi is also scheduled to meet Le Minh Hung, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, at 11:30 am. Separately, President Pezeshkian is due to meet the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
A key engagement at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi is Modi’s meeting with Xi Jinping at Bharat Mandapam at 5:45 pm. Modi has already held bilateral discussions with Putin and Pezeshkian on the margins of the summit.
Closed-door session on global governance
Leaders from BRICS member countries are expected to arrive at Bharat Mandapam at 2 pm. A closed session is scheduled to begin at 2:35 pm in the Summit Hall on Level 2, focusing on inclusive global governance and stronger multilateralism.
The discussion reflects BRICS’s long-standing aim of expanding the role of developing and emerging economies in international decision-making. For India, the chairmanship offers an opportunity to build consensus across an increasingly diverse membership.
At 4:25 pm, leaders are scheduled to visit the Bharat Innovates exhibition in Hall 14, which showcases India’s innovation and technology capabilities. A family photograph is planned for 5:05 pm on the outside lawns, followed by a ceremonial tree-planting event. Prime Minister Modi will host a gala dinner at 7:30 pm on Level 3 of Bharat Mandapam.
An expanded and more complex BRICS
BRICS began as BRIC, bringing together Brazil, Russia, India and China. Its foreign ministers first met alongside the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 2006, and the first leaders’ summit took place in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009. South Africa joined in 2011.
Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates became full members in January 2024, while Indonesia joined in January 2025. The grouping now has 11 full members and a growing number of partner nations.
Expansion has broadened BRICS’s economic and diplomatic influence, while making agreement harder to achieve. Its members have different political systems, economic interests and foreign-policy positions, especially on regional security and the Middle East crisis.
Why India’s role matters
The BRICS Summit in New Delhi comes as India balances close ties with the United States, Gulf states and fellow BRICS members. Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia each bring distinct regional interests to the forum, making India’s role as chair especially delicate.
India’s immediate objective is to sustain dialogue and practical cooperation despite competing priorities. The summit’s emphasis on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability provides a framework for members to seek areas of common interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the summit being held?
The summit is being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, with some bilateral meetings scheduled at Hyderabad House and Rashtrapati Bhavan.
What is the main focus of the first closed session?
The closed-door discussion focuses on inclusive global governance and strengthening multilateralism.
Why is this BRICS meeting closely watched?
The expanded group is meeting while the US-Iran war and wider Middle East tensions are placing additional pressure on diplomatic relations among several participating countries.