India (Commonwealth Union)_ New Delhi is all set to welcome some of the world’s most influential political and economic figures as India hosts the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit on September 12 and 13. Accordingly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is leading BRICS as its chair this year, will host leaders from the expanded group at Bharat Mandapam. The summit comes at a time of major geopolitical tensions, making India’s role particularly important and placing the meeting under close international scrutiny.
Global leaders who are attending the BRICS Summit
The summit will bring together the leaders of the 11 BRICS member countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Among the prominent attendees are Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
The UAE will be represented by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, while Brazil’s Mauro Vieira will attend as foreign minister. The wider gathering will also include Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Leaders and senior representatives from Uzbekistan, Uganda, Burundi, Vietnam, the Philippines, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia are also expected. The presence of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala adds further weight to the meeting. Their participation highlights the summit’s importance beyond the BRICS grouping itself.
Also read: Belgium PM’s India visit: A new chapter for India-EU ties. The EU angle explained!
India’s grand role and priorities
India’s presidency is taking place during a complicated period marked by the war in Ukraine, tensions involving Iran and growing competition between major global powers. As chair, India will have to bring countries with very different interests to the same table while keeping discussions focused on practical cooperation. New Delhi is expected to push issues such as trade, investment, food and energy security, supply chains, development finance, technology, artificial intelligence and global governance reform.
Cross-border payments are likely to receive particular attention, with BRICS members exploring greater use of national currencies in trade. India is also placing agriculture, health, innovation, clean energy and sustainable development high on the agenda. Its presidency theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability,” reflects an emphasis on practical solutions and inclusive growth.
Business leaders add economic weight
The summit will also have a strong business dimension. Senior executives from energy, banking, technology, shipping, aviation and mining are expected to participate. Among them are Embraer President and CEO Francisco Gomes Neto; Vale CEO Gustavo Pimenta; Naspers CEO Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa; Russian Railways CEO Oleg Belozerov; and Sberbank First Deputy Chairman Alexander Vedyakhin. Before the leaders’ meeting, Modi is scheduled to address the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi. Business representatives from China, Russia, Brazil, the UAE and other member states will discuss trade, agriculture, investment, supply chains and the digital economy.
Also read: Meet the world’s highest-paid leader who earns more than Trump: Check out his new pay!
Why the West is watching closely?
The growing influence of BRICS has attracted considerable attention in Western capitals, particularly Washington. The grouping now represents a much broader share of the emerging global economy than when it was formed. Its discussions on national currencies, alternative payment arrangements and reducing dependence on established financial systems could challenge parts of the existing international economic order. For the United States and its allies, the summit therefore raises questions about whether BRICS could gradually become a stronger platform for countries seeking greater independence from Western-led institutions and financial systems. At the same time, BRICS members do not share identical political or economic interests, making deeper unity far from guaranteed.
A critical moment for India
India’s position is especially significant because it maintains relationships across competing international groupings. New Delhi is simultaneously active in BRICS, the G20 and the Quad, giving it a unique diplomatic position. The 18th summit could therefore become more than another annual BRICS meeting. It may signal how emerging powers intend to shape trade, finance, technology and global governance in the years ahead. With major leaders gathered in New Delhi and Western powers watching carefully, India’s handling of the summit could have consequences well beyond the two days of discussions.
