Preparations are in full swing in New Delhi for the 2026 BRICS Summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and other leaders have already arrived in the Indian capital. The summit will take place on September 12-13 at the Bharat Mandapam complex. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold bilateral talks with several leaders, including China's Xi Jinping, Iran's Pezeshkian, and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Security has been intensified with thousands of personnel deployed, and all schools in Delhi will remain closed on September 11.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the BRICS Business Forum, blamed Western countries for attempting to reclaim their "former leadership" in an "unseemly" fashion. According to him, the West is focusing on destroying facilities and pipelines, as well as seizing vessels, in an attempt to maintain its economic leadership. The remarks are seen as a sharp critique of Western economic dominance. Putin also reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership with India during his meeting with Modi.
According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, Modi and Putin exchanged views on India-Russia engagement in the multilateral sphere, particularly in BRICS under India's Chairship for 2026. They also discussed key regional and global issues, including conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region that have impacted maritime trade and the safety of Indian seafarers. The two leaders committed to further strengthening the "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership."
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Delhi is the first by an Iranian president to India in over eight years. He is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Modi to advance two-way trade and strengthen overall ties. His participation holds significance amid tensions in the Middle East and energy market disruptions.
BRICS nations now represent nearly 3.7 billion people and close to 40% of global GDP. The expanded bloc is seeking a stronger voice in the global economy, but disagreements over an alternative payment system and China's dominant role could test unity. Renewable energy and green infrastructure financing are emerging as key areas to watch.
Former UN diplomat Shashi Tharoor told DW that the expansion of BRICS has made it the voice of the Global South. He noted that the 2023 Johannesburg expansion accommodated both sets of geopolitical points of view. However, Tharoor said the chances of consensus have decreased, and contradictions have become more apparent. He said that this year, leaders could not agree on any particular language regarding Ukraine and Iran, and chair India issued a chair statement instead.
Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday urged BRICS member countries to link their payment systems, encourage trade in local currencies, and make digital trade more accessible globally. He highlighted India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as a potential foundation for deeper cross-border financial cooperation, noting it is already accepted in 11 countries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is participating in person at a BRICS Summit held outside Russia for the first time since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This is seen as an attempt to overcome international isolation.
Source: www.dw.com