BRICS leaders gather in New Delhi on September 12, 2026 to discuss trade and global conflicts
Narendra Modi hosts Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 18th BRICS Summit. Saudi Arabia joins as an invited nation with Prince Faisal bin Farhan attending.
Leaders of the BRICS nations met in New Delhi on Saturday, September 12, 2026. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The summit addressed trade, investment, and rising tensions including wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed around the venue under a theme called Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived on Saturday to represent Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as an invited country. Brazil was represented by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva who did not attend. The group comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. Chinese President Xi Jinping criticized arbitrary trade tariffs and rejected protectionism without naming specific countries. He avoided explicitly citing the United States during his remarks at the 18th BRICS Summit. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the meeting alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin.
