The BRICS Summit is expected to focus on global security, trade and economic cooperation
India is set to take centre stage in global diplomacy as Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to host Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13.
The high-profile summit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, with conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, shifting trade alliances and growing strategic rivalry among major powers dominating the global agenda.
Putin confirms visit; Xi expected to attend
The Kremlin has officially confirmed President Vladimir Putin’s participation in the summit. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said the Russian leader will travel to India for the two-day event, marking his second visit to the country in less than a year after attending the India-Russia Annual Summit in December 2025.
Russian officials have also indicated that Putin is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit.
While Beijing has not yet formally announced Xi’s visit, diplomatic sources indicate that the Chinese President is widely expected to travel to New Delhi following recent improvements in India-China diplomatic engagement.
If confirmed, it will be Xi’s first visit to India since the 2019 Mamallapuram informal summit, held before the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes that severely strained bilateral relations.
Modi, Xi and Putin likely to hold key talks
The summit is expected to feature separate and multilateral meetings involving Prime Minister Modi, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.
The discussions are likely to focus on global security challenges, regional stability, energy security, supply chains, economic cooperation and reforms of international institutions.
The leaders are also expected to exchange views on the continuing Russia-Ukraine conflict, tensions in West Asia involving Iran, Israel and the United States, and the changing global economic landscape.
First meeting since SCO Summit
The BRICS gathering will mark the first time Modi, Xi and Putin meet together since the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin in 2025.
During that meeting, India and China agreed to maintain diplomatic engagement following progress in border disengagement, while India and Russia reaffirmed their long-standing strategic partnership.
The SCO Summit also concluded with the adoption of the Tianjin Declaration, focusing on regional security, connectivity, economic cooperation and counter-terrorism.
India’s growing global role
As chair of the expanded BRICS grouping, India is expected to steer discussions on strengthening cooperation among emerging economies, promoting reforms in global governance institutions, increasing the use of local currencies in trade and advancing the interests of the Global South.
The expanded BRICS bloc now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, making it one of the world’s largest geopolitical and economic groupings.
With Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin expected in New Delhi, the summit is likely to be one of India’s most closely watched diplomatic engagements in recent years, reinforcing its growing role as a key bridge between competing global power centres.
For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.
