New Delhi, May 14 (BNP): India on Thursday formally commenced the first major ministerial engagement under its BRICS 2026 Chairship as foreign ministers and senior diplomats from member and partner nations gathered at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar personally received the visiting delegates and welcomed them to the high-level summit venue ahead of the two-day deliberations.
Among the prominent leaders attending the meeting are Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and senior representatives from several BRICS member and partner countries.
Following their arrival, the dignitaries participated in an official group photograph with EAM Jaishankar before the commencement of formal discussions.
The External Affairs Minister is scheduled to chair the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, where participating nations are expected to deliberate on a wide range of regional and global issues, including multilateral cooperation, geopolitical developments, economic partnerships and reforms in international governance institutions.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the ministers and heads of delegations will also call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their visit to New Delhi.
The meeting assumes significance as it marks the first major diplomatic engagement under India’s BRICS Chairship following the expansion of the grouping. Discussions held during the summit are expected to help shape the agenda for the upcoming BRICS Leaders’ Summit later this year.
Addressing a weekly media briefing earlier, the MEA said the deliberations over May 14 and 15 would focus on strengthening cooperation among Global South nations, enhancing resilience in emerging economies and promoting a more inclusive international order amid rapidly evolving geopolitical challenges.
India recently unveiled the official logo and dedicated website for its BRICS 2026 Chairship under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” reflecting New Delhi’s people-centric and “Humanity First” approach championed by Prime Minister Modi during the 2025 BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
This is the fourth time India is hosting a BRICS summit-level engagement, underlining the country’s growing influence within the bloc and its expanding leadership role among developing nations.