BRICS Summit 2026: India to deploy summit diplomacy amid expanded membership

India will host the BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi, leveraging summit diplomacy to navigate complex geopolitical dynamics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold key bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and potentially Chinese President Xi Jinping, alongside pull-asides, walk-and-talks and corridor conversations.

With BRICS expanding to 11 members, India faces the challenge of balancing multiple priorities including geopolitics, trade, energy and global governance. The summit will rely on diplomatic choreography, personal chemistry between leaders and strategic signalling to forge consensus among member nations.

The format underscores India's effort to manage competing interests within the bloc while advancing New Delhi's diplomatic objectives on the world stage.