Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold bilateral talks with several leaders on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit 2026, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on Tuesday.

The Ministry stated that details of the participating leaders and the schedule of meetings will be shared separately.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing the biweekly media briefing, emphasised that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict is among the issues expected to feature in the Prime Minister’s bilateral discussions. He noted that these talks will cover a wide range of subjects, reflecting the summit’s broader agenda.

Jaiswal reiterated that the Ministry would provide updates on the participation of heads of state and government in due course. He urged the media to await official confirmation regarding the attendance of specific leaders.

When asked about Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s participation in the summit, Jaiswal clarified that he did not have any update at this stage.

India is preparing to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026. The summit marks a pivotal moment for the intergovernmental forum of major emerging market economies and developing nations.

The BRICS grouping was initially established as BRIC, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, and China. The first Foreign Ministers’ meeting was held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in 2006, followed by the inaugural summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009. South Africa joined in 2011, transforming the bloc into BRICS.

The alliance has since undergone significant expansion. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE became full members in January 2024, followed by Indonesia in January 2025. Today, BRICS features 11 full member states and an expanding network of partner nations, commanding considerable global economic and diplomatic influence.

India’s 2026 chairship is guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” New Delhi’s vision seeks to move beyond routine political coordination, focusing instead on practical cooperation across commerce, agriculture, healthcare, energy, digital technology, urban development, small enterprise empowerment, Start-Ups, climate action, and cultural exchanges.

The framework is organised around four primary pillars. The first, Resilience, aims to safeguard institutions, societies, and economies against supply-chain disruptions, health crises, geopolitical shocks, and climate risks.

The second pillar, Innovation, focuses on deploying artificial intelligence, financial technologies, digital public infrastructure, and data-driven systems to strengthen cooperation.

The third pillar, Cooperation, seeks to broaden trade flows, institutional linkages, development financing, and economic policy alignment among member states.

The fourth pillar, Sustainability, is centred on promoting global climate action, green finance, energy transitions, and sustainable development, ensuring that mechanisms deliver enduring benefits beyond the summit.

In economic governance and trade, BRICS has advanced the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership 2030. The grouping reaffirmed its support for a robust multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core.

To strengthen trade corridors, member states have adopted the BRICS Global Value Chains Action Plan 2026-2030. This plan includes guiding principles designed to assess export-oriented micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), ensuring their integration into global markets.

India’s leadership of the summit underscores its role in shaping the future trajectory of BRICS, positioning the grouping as a central voice for institutional reform, financial inclusivity, and sustainable development.

ANI