BRICS Summit 2026 in Delhi: Putin Arrives as Capital Goes on High Alert

The BRICS Summit 2026 in Delhi is bringing some of the world’s most prominent political leaders to New Delhi as India hosts the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit under its 2026 chairship. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the capital on September 11, ahead of the leaders’ meeting at Bharat Mandapam. The summit’s main leaders’ sessions are scheduled for September 12 and 13.

The high-profile gathering comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, with conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, changing global trade dynamics and growing discussions around a more multipolar international order placing additional importance on the BRICS platform.

BRICS Summit 2026 in Delhi Brings Together Global Leaders

India’s BRICS chairship has culminated in the New Delhi summit after hundreds of meetings and high-level engagements held across the country during 2026.

The 18th summit will bring together leaders from the expanded BRICS grouping, which now has 11 members. Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian are among the leaders expected to participate, while the UAE is being represented by Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled.

For India, the summit provides an opportunity to strengthen economic and diplomatic cooperation with emerging economies while also managing relationships with major global powers.

Putin Arrives in New Delhi

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on September 11 for the BRICS summit. His visit is expected to include discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi covering areas such as trade, investment, energy, defence and technology.

Putin’s presence is particularly significant given the ongoing geopolitical tensions surrounding Russia’s war in Ukraine and the wider debate over the role of emerging economies in global affairs.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to attend the summit, making the gathering an important diplomatic moment for India-China engagement. His visit would mark his first trip to India in seven years.

Bharat Mandapam Becomes the Centre of the Summit

Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan is serving as the principal venue for the summit.

The venue has undergone extensive preparations to accommodate visiting leaders, delegations and international events. Russia has also showcased elements of its cultural heritage at Bharat Mandapam, including traditional artifacts and performances, as part of the summit’s cultural activities.

India’s official BRICS programme is being guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, reflecting the country’s focus on practical cooperation and a people-centric approach described as “Humanity First.”

Delhi Turns Into a High-Security Zone

The BRICS Summit 2026 in Delhi has resulted in one of the capital’s largest security operations in recent years.

Authorities have deployed thousands of police and paramilitary personnel, while security arrangements include anti-drone systems, CCTV surveillance and extensive route management for visiting leaders.

The Indian Express reported that approximately 25,000 security personnel, more than 100 NSG commandos and anti-drone systems were being deployed as part of the security operation around the summit.

Other reports have placed the broader deployment at around 30,000 security personnel across Delhi, with specialised arrangements for leaders including Putin and Xi Jinping.

Traffic Restrictions Across New Delhi

The arrival of foreign leaders and their motorcades has also created major traffic restrictions across the capital.

Central and South Delhi are expected to experience the greatest impact, particularly along routes connecting the airport, diplomatic areas, hotels and Bharat Mandapam.

Authorities have announced diversions and restrictions on several roads, while commuters have been advised to use public transport and allow additional travel time.

The restrictions have affected everyday commuters, office workers and delivery services, with some areas experiencing longer travel times because of security-related diversions.

Why the 2026 BRICS Summit Matters

The summit comes at an important point in BRICS’ development.

The grouping has expanded substantially since its original formation and now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. The expanded membership has increased BRICS’ economic and geopolitical weight but has also introduced differences in foreign-policy priorities among members.

The New Delhi meeting is therefore expected to test whether the enlarged group can reach common positions on major international issues.

Among the important areas are global governance, trade, financial cooperation, energy security, food security, healthcare, disaster resilience and critical supply chains.

Middle East Conflict Adds to the Summit’s Importance

The geopolitical situation in the Middle East is expected to feature prominently during the gathering.

The ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran has created additional pressure within BRICS because Iran became a member of the group in 2024, while the UAE has taken a different position after being targeted by Iranian missiles.

The conflict has also disrupted energy markets and pushed crude oil prices above $100 per barrel, creating concerns for major energy-importing economies.

For India, discussions around energy security and supply chains are particularly important because elevated oil prices can affect inflation, the rupee and economic growth.

India Looks to Strengthen Economic Cooperation

Economic cooperation is another major focus of the BRICS Summit 2026 in Delhi.

BRICS members have been exploring greater cooperation in trade, finance, payments and development while discussing ways to reduce vulnerabilities associated with dependence on existing global financial systems.

The group has also discussed increasing the use of local currencies in trade and developing alternative payment mechanisms. However, differences among member economies mean that translating these ideas into fully integrated systems remains a complex challenge.

India-China Engagement Under Spotlight

The expected presence of Xi Jinping has added another layer of importance to the Delhi summit.

India and China have been working to stabilise relations following years of tensions along their disputed Himalayan border. The BRICS summit provides an opportunity for the two countries to maintain diplomatic engagement while discussing broader economic and regional issues.

Any meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi could therefore attract significant international attention.

What to Expect From the BRICS Summit

The leaders’ summit on September 12 and 13 is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation among member and partner countries and addressing global and regional challenges.

India’s BRICS chairship has emphasised resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability, with the broader objective of producing practical and development-oriented outcomes.

The summit could result in discussions or agreements covering economic cooperation, energy and food security, healthcare, supply chains, technology, financial systems and global governance.

At the same time, the differing strategic interests of BRICS members mean that reaching consensus on geopolitical questions could prove more difficult.

New Delhi Braces for a Major Diplomatic Gathering

The BRICS Summit 2026 in Delhi represents one of India’s most significant international diplomatic events of the year.

With Vladimir Putin already in the capital and other major leaders arriving, New Delhi has transformed into a tightly secured diplomatic zone. Bharat Mandapam will remain at the centre of the proceedings as leaders discuss economic cooperation, geopolitical challenges and the future direction of the expanded BRICS grouping.

Beyond the diplomatic discussions, the summit is also putting India’s ability to host large-scale international events under intense global attention. The extensive security arrangements and traffic management measures reflect the scale and importance of the gathering.

For India, the summit offers an opportunity to demonstrate its leadership within BRICS while balancing relationships with Russia, China, Iran and other emerging powers amid a rapidly changing global environment.

FAQs

1. What is the BRICS Summit 2026 in Delhi?

The BRICS Summit 2026 in Delhi is the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, hosted by India as part of its 2026 BRICS chairship.

2. When is the BRICS Summit 2026?

The main BRICS Leaders’ Summit is scheduled for September 12 and 13, 2026, in New Delhi.

3. Where is the BRICS Summit being held?

The summit is being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

4. Has Vladimir Putin arrived in Delhi?

Yes. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on September 11, 2026, ahead of the BRICS summit.

5. Is Xi Jinping attending the BRICS Summit?

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend the summit in New Delhi. His visit would be his first to India in seven years.

6. What is the theme of India’s BRICS chairship?

India’s BRICS chairship is guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, reflecting a “Humanity First” approach.

7. Why are there major traffic restrictions in Delhi?

Traffic restrictions and diversions have been introduced because of the movement of visiting heads of state, security requirements and motorcade routes during the summit.

8. How many countries are currently members of BRICS?

BRICS currently has 11 member countries following its expansion.

9. What issues will BRICS leaders discuss?

Key areas include global and regional affairs, economic cooperation, energy and food security, healthcare, disaster resilience, supply chains and financial cooperation.

10. Why is the 2026 BRICS Summit important for India?

The summit gives India an opportunity to shape BRICS cooperation, strengthen ties with emerging economies and engage major powers on global economic and geopolitical issues.