India will host one of the most geopolitically complicated BRICS summits yet on September 12 and 13, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping among the leaders expected in the capital.
Egypt and Ethiopia add to the African representation alongside South Africa.
Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, Thailand and Cuba are among other countries expected to be represented in Delhi in various capacities, according to information provided for the summit.
The expanded BRICS grouping, which now stretches across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, is expected to bring together leaders and senior representatives from across the bloc.
The expanded BRICS grouping, which now stretches across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, is expected to bring together leaders and senior representatives from across the bloc. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is also expected to attend. On paper, the official agenda will focus on trade, development financing and reform of global institutions. Behind closed doors, however, officials involved in the preparations expect the conflict in the Middle East to cast a shadow over much of the summit. Iran is expected to push for language in the summit declaration reflecting its position on the recent conflict, strikes and sanctions. BRICS operates on consensus, meaning a single delegation can block agreement on a contentious paragraph.
Because of domestic commitments, with Brazil likely to be represented by its foreign minister, brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is not expected to attend.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will attend instead of his father, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to sources. “The language on West Asia is where the pressure is,” a diplomat familiar with the preparations said. “Everyone has their own red lines.”
