With major emerging economies gathering in the Indian capital, the summit is expected to place India at the centre of conversations on global governance, economic cooperation, security, energy and the future role of the Global South.

Putin arrives in New Delhi

Russian President Vladimir Putin has already arrived in New Delhi for a three-day visit ahead of the summit. His arrival marks his first in-person participation at a BRICS summit outside Russia since the beginning of the Ukraine war in 2022.

Putin is expected to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with trade, investment, energy, defence, technology and wider economic cooperation likely to feature prominently. The meeting is also expected to reinforce the longstanding strategic relationship between India and Russia.

Xi Jinping set to join Modi

Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to arrive in India on September 12 for the BRICS summit, marking his first visit to the country in seven years. His participation adds another major dimension to the gathering as India and China continue efforts to stabilise bilateral relations.

Modi and Xi are also expected to hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit. Discussions could include border management, trade, investment, economic engagement and restoring greater communication between the two countries.

A crucial test for BRICS

The summit is taking place against a complicated geopolitical backdrop. The ongoing conflict involving Iran, tensions across West Asia, uncertainty around energy supplies and changing global trade policies have created different strategic priorities among BRICS members.

Finding common ground among an increasingly diverse group will therefore be one of the summit’s biggest challenges. While members may disagree on individual geopolitical issues, the gathering offers an opportunity to focus on areas where their economic and developmental interests overlap.

India puts the Global South forward

India’s 2026 BRICS chairship is centred on the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. Through the chairship, New Delhi is seeking to strengthen cooperation in areas including technology, healthcare, food and energy security, disaster resilience and sustainable development.

The approach also reflects India’s broader effort to give developing and emerging economies a stronger voice in international institutions. BRICS has increasingly become a platform through which members can discuss reforms to global governance and greater representation for the Global South.

A larger and more influential bloc

BRICS has expanded significantly since its original formation and now consists of 11 members spanning Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. The expanded grouping represents a substantial share of the global population and economy, giving its decisions greater relevance to international trade and economic policy.

The wider membership, however, also brings greater diversity in national interests. The ability to maintain cohesion while accommodating different political and economic priorities will be crucial to determining how influential the grouping can become.

Why the Modi-Putin-Xi dynamic matters

For India, the presence of Putin and Xi in New Delhi creates an important diplomatic opportunity. New Delhi maintains a longstanding strategic partnership with Moscow while simultaneously working to improve relations with Beijing and expanding economic and strategic engagement with Western countries.

Bringing these competing relationships together in the same diplomatic setting reinforces India’s position as a major independent voice in global affairs. The summit could also provide space for India to advance its own priorities while encouraging dialogue among countries with different strategic perspectives.

What to expect from the summit

The BRICS Leaders’ Summit will begin on September 12, with leaders expected to discuss global governance, trade and investment, technology, healthcare, food and energy security, resilience and sustainable development.

The summit is also expected to work towards a New Delhi Declaration outlining areas of cooperation and consensus among member countries. With the expanded BRICS bloc facing a rapidly changing international environment, the declaration could offer an indication of how effectively its members can translate their growing economic weight into coordinated action.

Delhi takes the diplomatic spotlight

As Putin has arrived and Xi prepares to join the gathering, attention is now turning towards New Delhi and the meetings that will unfold over the next two days. The summit represents more than another diplomatic engagement. It is a test of whether an increasingly diverse group of emerging powers can find common ground at a time of major geopolitical and economic change.

For India, it is also an opportunity to demonstrate that New Delhi can bring competing interests to the same table while strengthening its influence across the Global South. The outcome of the summit could shape not only the future direction of BRICS, but also India’s evolving role in a rapidly changing global order.