Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met several foreign ministers attending the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, as India intensified diplomatic engagement under its 2026 chairship of the expanded BRICS grouping.
The high-level interactions took place on the sidelines of the two-day BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting being hosted at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital.
Key Foreign Ministers Who Met PM Modi
Among the leaders who met Prime Minister Modi were:
- Sergey Lavrov
- Abbas Araghchi
- Ronald Lamola
- Mauro Vieira.
Prime Minister Modi also joined ministers and delegates for the official BRICS family photograph during the summit proceedings.
India Hosting BRICS Meet Under 2026 Chairship
India is hosting the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on May 14–15 as part of its 2026 presidency of the bloc. This marks the fourth time India has assumed the BRICS chairship after earlier presidencies in 2012, 2016, and 2021.
The expanded BRICS grouping now includes:
- Brazil
- Russia
- India
- China
- South Africa
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Iran
- UAE
- Indonesia.
The theme of India’s chairship this year is:
“Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Focus Areas of the Meeting
The discussions are expected to cover:
- Global economic uncertainty
- Reforms in global governance institutions
- Trade and multilateral cooperation
- Climate and development challenges
- Regional security concerns, especially the escalating tensions in West Asia.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar chaired the meeting and welcomed delegates at Bharat Mandapam earlier in the day.
West Asia Conflict Casts Shadow Over Summit
The ongoing conflict involving Iran and rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz emerged as one of the central geopolitical issues during the BRICS discussions.
India stressed the importance of:
- Safe and uninterrupted maritime trade routes
- Diplomatic resolution of conflicts
- Stability in global energy supply chains.
The issue gained additional significance because BRICS now includes both Iran and United Arab Emirates, whose differences reportedly surfaced during deliberations.
Value Addition: Why This BRICS Meeting Matters More Than Previous Summits
1. India’s First Major Diplomatic Showcase Under Expanded BRICS
This is India’s first major BRICS engagement after the bloc’s expansion beyond its original five-member structure, making consensus-building more complex and strategically important.
2. Global South Leadership
India is positioning itself as a bridge between:
- Emerging economies
- Energy-producing nations
- Developing countries seeking reforms in global institutions.
3. BRICS Is Becoming More Geopolitical
Originally focused largely on economic cooperation, BRICS is increasingly engaging with:
- Security crises
- Sanctions debates
- Global power realignments.
4. India Balancing Multiple Relationships
Hosting ministers from countries with competing geopolitical interests highlights India’s growing emphasis on “multi-alignment” diplomacy—maintaining ties across rival blocs without formally choosing sides.
Strategic Importance for India
The BRICS meeting comes at a time when India is:
- Expanding its global diplomatic footprint
- Positioning itself as a voice of the Global South
- Seeking reforms in international institutions such as the UN and global financial systems.
Analysts believe India’s successful management of an expanded and politically diverse BRICS grouping could strengthen its standing as a major diplomatic balancing power in an increasingly polarized world order.
Conclusion
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meetings with BRICS foreign ministers in New Delhi underline India’s growing role at the centre of Global South diplomacy and multilateral engagement. As geopolitical tensions, energy concerns, and global governance debates dominate international discourse, the BRICS platform is evolving into a more influential geopolitical forum—and India’s 2026 chairship is likely to shape much of that direction.
