NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold key bilateral discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian today, September 11, setting the tone for the two-day 18th BRICS Summit hosted at Bharat Mandapam.
As the 2026 BRICS Chair, India is convening leaders from the expanded 11-member bloc alongside invited partner nations. High-level engagements will focus on intra-BRICS trade mechanisms, global governance reform, and navigating regional divisions over conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Key Diplomatic Engagements & High-Profile Attendees
The summit marks significant diplomatic milestones, including Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first visit to India in six years as bilateral ties normalize following the 2020 Galwan Valley standoff.
-
Bilateral Agenda: PM Modi’s talks with President Putin and President Pezeshkian will focus on cross-border trade, energy security, and local currency settlement frameworks.
-
Confirmed Head-of-State Attendees:
-
BRICS Members: President Vladimir Putin (Russia), President Xi Jinping (China), President Masoud Pezeshkian (Iran), President Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa), President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (Egypt), Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Ethiopia), and President Prabowo Subianto (Indonesia).
-
Represented Nations: Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira (representing Brazil) and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (representing UAE).
-
Partner & Regional Invitees: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (Malaysia), Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (Thailand), President Alexander Lukashenko (Belarus), and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (Kazakhstan).
-
Summit Schedule: Three-Day High-Level Itinerary
Meetings will take place at Bharat Mandapam, focusing on the overarching theme of inclusive global growth and sustainable development:
-
Friday, September 11 (Day 1): Opening sessions, bilateral meetings, and thematic discussions on intra-bloc economic cooperation.
-
Saturday, September 12 (Day 2): Closed session on “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism”, unveiling of the Bharat Innovates Exhibition, joint tree-planting ceremony, and a formal Gala Dinner hosted by PM Modi.
-
Sunday, September 13 (Day 3): Open session with partner countries and outreach invitees titled “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth”.
Capital-Wide Security & Traffic Arrangements
Delhi has been placed under a high-security blanket to ensure seamless movement for visiting VVIP convoys:
-
Deployment: Over 15,000 Delhi Police personnel and 200 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed, supported by 500+ AI-enabled CCTV cameras featuring facial recognition and automatic number-plate monitoring.
-
Traffic Management: While no city-wide lockdown has been imposed, rolling diversions and temporary stoppages are active across 35 major corridors, including Mathura Road, Sardar Patel Marg, Shanti Path, Janpath, and Ashoka Road. Commuters between Noida, West Delhi, and Central/South Delhi are advised to use alternative metro routes.
