India Hosts World Leaders at BRICS Amid Two Wars: What to Expect from the Summit

New Delhi is preparing to host the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam, with heightened security arrangements across the capital.

As the BRICS chair in 2026, India is bringing together leaders from member countries, partner nations, and invited countries for discussions on global and regional issues, economic cooperation, and strengthening ties within the grouping.

The summit comes at a particularly sensitive time, with conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East creating divisions and diplomatic challenges for several BRICS members.

Delhi on High Alert

Ahead of the summit, security has been significantly tightened across New Delhi.

Around 15,000 Delhi Police personnel, 200 companies of paramilitary forces, and more than 500 CCTV cameras are being deployed as part of the security arrangements.

Authorities have also introduced temporary traffic restrictions and diversions along several important routes. Roads including Mathura Road, Sardar Patel Marg, Shanti Path, Janpath, Ashoka Road, Barakhamba Road, Tolstoy Marg, Africa Avenue Road, and Niti Marg could experience disruptions during the movement of VVIP convoys.

Officials have said that the city will not be completely shut down, but commuters should expect temporary stoppages and diversions depending on security requirements.

Putin, Xi, and Pezeshkian Among Key Leaders

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in New Delhi for the summit. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is also expected to hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is another major focus of the summit. His India visit comes after several years of strained relations following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.

The recent improvement in India-China ties, including the restoration of some flights, visas, and high-level contacts, makes the meeting between Modi and Xi particularly significant.

What Will BRICS Discuss?

The expanded BRICS grouping now includes Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

The summit is expected to focus on:

• Strengthening intra-BRICS cooperation
• Global and regional security issues
• Economic and trade cooperation
• Development and financial cooperation
• The impact of ongoing international conflicts
• Greater coordination among emerging economies

India is also expected to highlight its vision of a more inclusive and representative global order.

Who Is Attending?

Apart from Putin, Xi, and Pezeshkian, several other prominent leaders are expected to participate.

These include South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

Brazil is expected to be represented by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, while the UAE is expected to send Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also expected to participate, subject to formal confirmation.

Why Is This BRICS Summit Important?

BRICS was created as a platform for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in global institutions. Over the years, the grouping has expanded significantly, bringing together countries with very different political and strategic interests.

With conflicts in different parts of the world, disagreements among member states, and growing competition between major powers, India’s 2026 BRICS presidency comes at a crucial moment.

The New Delhi summit could therefore become an important platform for economic cooperation, diplomatic engagement, and discussions on the changing global order.

For India, the summit is also an opportunity to demonstrate its diplomatic reach and push for stronger cooperation among emerging economies.