The 18th BRICS Summit is set to open in New Delhi this weekend with wars, global economic uncertainty and disruptions to energy and agricultural supply chains expected to dominate discussions. The summit comes at a time when conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine continue to create pressure on global markets and international diplomacy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to arrive in New Delhi on Friday, September 11, and is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon after his arrival. Defence cooperation and other bilateral issues are expected to feature prominently in the talks.

Putin-Modi Meeting in Focus

Putin's proposed bilateral meeting with Modi is among the most closely watched engagements on the sidelines of the summit. The two leaders are expected to discuss defence cooperation and other areas of strategic interest.

Putin remains one of the most prominent leaders among BRICS members and partner countries attending the two-day gathering. His visit also comes amid continuing geopolitical tensions involving Russia and Ukraine.

West Asia Crisis Takes Centre Stage

The conflict in West Asia is expected to receive significant attention, particularly with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian scheduled to attend.

The war, which began in February following joint military action by Israel and the United States against Iran, has affected regional security and contributed to concerns over energy supplies and global trade routes.

Pezeshkian's visit will be closely watched as it marks his first trip to India since taking office following the death of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in 2024.

Iran-UAE Tensions Under Watch

Relations between Iran and the United Arab Emirates could also emerge as a sensitive issue during the summit.

The two countries have exchanged increasingly strong messages amid continuing hostilities in the region. The UAE is expected to be represented by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Gulf Cooperation Council will also have representation, with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani attending the meeting.

Xi Jinping's India Visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping is among the major leaders expected in New Delhi. His participation adds significance to the summit as India and China continue efforts to stabilise bilateral relations.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto are also expected to attend.

Indonesia's participation is particularly notable after President Subianto attended India's Republic Day celebrations as Guest of Honour in January 2025.

BRICS Expands Global Representation

The summit will bring together leaders and representatives from BRICS members as well as partner countries.

South Africa will be represented by President Cyril Ramaphosa, while Brazil's delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira. Putin is the longest-serving leader among the group's founding members.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Vietnam's Prime Minister Le Minh Hung are among the notable leaders from BRICS partner countries expected at the gathering.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will participate as chair of ASEAN, while Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will attend in his capacity as President of the Eurasian Economic Union.

UN, WHO and WTO Chiefs to Attend

The summit will also feature senior representatives of major international institutions.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala are scheduled to attend.

Former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who represents the New Development Bank, is also expected to participate.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had been invited to attend, but Bangladesh will not be represented at the summit, according to Bangladesh's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kobir.

What to Watch Next

With major powers and international organisations converging in New Delhi, the summit is expected to focus on conflict resolution, energy security, food and agricultural supply chains, trade and the wider global economic impact of geopolitical instability.

The participation of Putin, Xi, Pezeshkian and Guterres gives India an important diplomatic platform to push discussions on global crises while highlighting BRICS' growing role in international affairs.