BRICS Leaders Gather in New Delhi to Push Trade, Investment Agenda

Leaders of the BRICS nations convened in New Delhi on Saturday for a summit centred on trade, investment and global conflicts, as the grouping presses for a larger role in setting the international agenda for emerging and developing economies.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, along with counterparts from the bloc's other member states. The gathering brought together heads of state and senior representatives from across the expanded membership.

Among those arriving at the summit venue were South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Brazil was represented by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira. Modi greeted each of the visiting leaders, exchanging handshakes and embraces as they arrived.

The meeting takes place against the backdrop of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as mounting tensions between the United States and China — pressures that are testing the bloc's capacity to forge common positions among countries with competing geopolitical interests.

BRICS was established in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. It has since grown to 11 members, accounting for roughly half the world's population and a substantial share of global economic output.

The group has increasingly demanded greater representation for developing countries in global institutions, a theme expected to feature prominently in the New Delhi discussions.