Overview
- Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that Vladimir Putin will definitely attend the India-hosted 18th BRICS Summit, marking his second India visit in a year while the dates remain unannounced.
- Russian and Indian reports point to September for the summit, with some citing September 12–13, though India has not published an official schedule.
- India, which holds the 2026 BRICS presidency, set the theme as “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability” with goals that include reforming global governance, boosting trade in local currencies, scaling digital public infrastructure, and strengthening health security.
- BRICS has grown to 11 members, now including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia, which increases the summit’s diplomatic weight.
- Preparations are underway with a BRICS Health Working Group meeting already held and a May foreign ministers meeting expected in New Delhi that could bring Iranian and UAE officials into direct talks.