India to Host BRICS Summit in New Delhi this September

The Government of India will host the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026, under the theme “Building for resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.” The event is expected to feature the attendance of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. India is also positioned to mediate tensions between Iran and the United Arab Emirates regarding the West Asia conflict and the Palestine issue.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to attend, which would mark his first visit to India since 2019, following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. While Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning initially declined to confirm the president's attendance during a July 30 briefing, Beijing has expressed general support for India's chairship. The potential visit is viewed as a step toward normalizing relations after years of military standoff along the Line of Actual Control.

To prepare for the summit, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri conducted a two-day visit to Beijing to meet with Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is also expected to visit China as both nations utilize the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination to deepen political trust. Additionally, India has invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as a special guest in his capacity as the BIMSTEC chair.