18th BRICS Summit to begin in New Delhi today
New Delhi: The 18th BRICS Summit opens at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital on Saturday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosting heads of state and government from the grouping's 11 member nations, partner countries and special invitees for two days of high-level talks.
The summit, scheduled for September 12–13, is being held under India's 2026 BRICS Chairship on the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability". The Ministry of External Affairs said the theme reflects the Prime Minister's people-centric vision anchored in the principle of "Humanity First".
Leaders are expected to review progress on BRICS cooperation and hold wide-ranging discussions on shared global and regional priorities, including multilateralism, trade and investment, energy and food security, supply chains and reform of international institutions.
This year, India has convened more than 350 BRICS-related meetings and high-level engagements across over 25 cities, covering the grouping's three pillars of political and security cooperation, economic and financial ties, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Officials said these interactions have helped translate BRICS cooperation into tangible, development-oriented outcomes through business and people-centric initiatives.
India, a founding member of BRICS, is holding the chairship for the fourth time after previously leading the grouping in 2012, 2016 and 2021. The MEA noted that 2026 also marks two decades since the BRICS framework was established.
The chairship logo unveiled by India combines traditional and modern elements, with petals in the colours of member countries symbolising unity and strength, and a central "Namaste" motif representing India's emphasis on respect and collaborative engagement.
BRICS currently includes Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. The grouping's partner countries are Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Over the years, BRICS has expanded its agenda to cover issues such as counter-terrorism, climate change, food and energy security, the global economic and financial outlook, telecommunications, agriculture, labour and employment, the international financial architecture, trade and matters related to the World Trade Organisation.
(Inputs from IANS)