World leaders are arriving in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit, which India will host on September 12 and 13 as the expanded bloc seeks to strengthen its influence over global economic and geopolitical affairs, as reported by The Times of India and The Hindu. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already arrived in the Indian capital, while Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend alongside leaders including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto. United Nations Secretary General António Guterres is also scheduled to participate.
The summit comes as BRICS confronts a more complicated international environment, with the war in Iran, the conflict in Ukraine, disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and growing competition between the United States and China creating significant pressure on the expanded grouping. BRICS now has 11 member countries and represents roughly half of the world’s population, giving its discussions considerable weight across energy, trade, finance and international diplomacy.
India is expected to use its presidency to advance practical economic cooperation alongside broader discussions on global governance. Proposals under consideration include a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund, an incubator network linking startups and investors across member states, and a logistics and supply chain cooperation framework aimed at improving trade resilience. Members are also expected to discuss reducing dependence on the US dollar through greater use of local currencies and independent payment systems.
For India, the summit represents an opportunity to strengthen its position as a bridge between emerging economies and the wider global system while managing its complex relationships with China, Russia and Western powers. A planned meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi could add further significance to the gathering, as New Delhi and Beijing seek to improve communication while managing longstanding strategic differences.
