India is preparing to host the annual BRICS summit this September, marking its role as the chair of the group this year. The summit will take place in New Delhi, with key international leaders in attendance. Among them is Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is scheduled to participate in the talks on September 12-13. This information was confirmed by Yury Ushakov, a Kremlin aide on international affairs.
During the BRICS summit, a significant bilateral meeting is expected to occur between President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Such interactions on the sidelines of international summits highlight the complex geopolitical relationships within the BRICS nations. Putin’s presence in India this time follows his last visit in December 2025, when he attended the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, underscoring the ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
In the lead-up to the summit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov participated in a two-day meeting of BRICS member states in New Delhi earlier this month. This gathering aimed to set the stage for the upcoming discussions among the expanded group of nations. BRICS, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, underwent expansion in 2024. The group welcomed Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, with Indonesia joining in 2025, broadening its scope and influence on the global stage.
With this expansion, BRICS now represents a coalition of 11 significant emerging economies. Collectively, these nations account for nearly half of the world’s population, contributing about 40% to global GDP and engaging in approximately 26% of global trade. The summit in New Delhi is expected to further solidify the role of BRICS as a major player in international affairs, offering a platform for these countries to collaborate on common challenges and opportunities.