Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the upcoming Brics summit in India later this year, marking his second visit to the country in less than a year.
The confirmation came from the Kremlin, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying Putin will “definitely” take part in the summit, according to reports.
New Delhi is expected to host the 18th Brics Summit under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2026 as part of its presidency of the bloc, bringing together leaders from major emerging economies at a time of heightened global uncertainty.
SECOND INDIA VISIT IN LESS THAN A YEAR
Putin was last in India in December 2025 for a two-day visit, during which he held talks with the Prime Minister at the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
The visit also marked the 25th anniversary of the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the two countries, first signed during Putin’s first visit to India in 2000.
WHAT IS BRICS AND WHY IT MATTERS
Brics has expanded significantly in recent years and now includes 11 major emerging economies, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
The grouping serves as a platform for coordination on global political and economic issues, including governance reforms, energy security and development priorities.
Originally formed as Bric after a meeting of foreign ministers on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in 2006, the group held its first summit in Yekaterinburg in 2009. It became Brics with the inclusion of South Africa in 2010.
In recent years, the bloc has further expanded, with new members joining from 2024 onwards, along with partner countries such as Belarus, Nigeria, Malaysia and Vietnam.
INDIA’S AGENDA UNDER BRICS PRESIDENCY
Under India’s chairship since January 2026, the summit is guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” with a strong focus on the Global South.
Key priorities include pushing for reforms in global governance, boosting economic resilience and local currency trade, expanding digital public infrastructure, strengthening health security, enhancing counter-terror cooperation, advancing climate finance and energy transition, and deepening people-to-people ties among Brics nations.
