Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold bilateral talks with several world leaders on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit 2026, which India will host in New Delhi on September 12-13. The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that the Prime Minister will engage with participating leaders during the summit, although details regarding the individual leaders and the schedule of meetings will be announced separately.
According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the bilateral discussions are expected to cover a broad range of international and bilateral issues. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict is among the issues that could feature in the discussions, reflecting India’s continued diplomatic engagement on major global developments. The government has also asked the media to await official confirmation regarding the participation of specific heads of state and government.
The upcoming summit carries particular significance as India assumes the leadership of BRICS in 2026. New Delhi is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” India’s agenda places emphasis on strengthening cooperation in areas including trade, energy, healthcare, digital technology, climate action, agriculture and sustainable development.
The BRICS grouping has expanded considerably since its formation as BRIC, with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates joining as full members in 2024, followed by Indonesia in 2025. The expanded grouping has increased its economic and diplomatic significance, giving India’s 2026 chairship an important role in shaping discussions on global governance, economic cooperation and development.
The bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit are therefore expected to provide an opportunity for India to discuss issues of mutual interest with visiting leaders while also advancing New Delhi’s wider diplomatic priorities. Recent reporting has also indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Modi during his India visit, with bilateral economic and trade cooperation expected to be among the subjects of discussion.
With the BRICS Summit approaching, attention is now focused on the final list of participating leaders and the schedule of Prime Minister Modi’s bilateral engagements. The meetings are likely to add a significant diplomatic dimension to India’s hosting of the summit and underline New Delhi’s role in shaping cooperation among major emerging economies.