India is poised to host the BRICS annual summit this September as the country assumes the chairmanship of the influential international group. The summit, scheduled for September 12-13 in New Delhi, will witness the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking a significant diplomatic gathering. This announcement comes from a Kremlin aide, highlighting the importance of the upcoming event.
Apart from attending the summit, President Putin is also set to engage in a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines, indicating the ongoing strategic conversations between these two major powers. The BRICS summit offers a platform for these discussions, showcasing the bloc’s growing role in global affairs.
President Putin’s visit to India will be his first since December 2025, when he attended the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. This return underscores the continued importance of India-Russia relations within the broader context of BRICS, a group originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The Russian leader’s presence at the summit reflects the enduring ties and shared interests between the member nations.
This year’s BRICS summit follows recent expansions of the group, which now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, with Indonesia joining in 2025. This enlargement has increased BRICS’ representation on the global stage, now encompassing 11 leading emerging economies. Together, these countries account for nearly half of the world’s population, contributing about 40% of global GDP and roughly 26% of global trade. The expanded BRICS exemplifies a significant shift in global economic dynamics, providing a counterbalance to traditional Western economic blocs.
Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was in New Delhi for a two-day conclave of BRICS member states, setting the stage for the upcoming summit. As the preparations continue, the focus remains on how BRICS can leverage its collective influence to address global challenges and foster cooperation among its diverse member nations. The forthcoming summit in New Delhi is expected to further this agenda, as leaders from these pivotal economies convene to discuss pressing international issues.