New Delhi, May 14: Foreign ministers and senior diplomats from BRICS member and partner nations began arriving at Bharat Mandapam on Thursday for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting being hosted under India’s 2026 chairship of the expanded grouping.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar personally received and welcomed the visiting leaders and dignitaries at the venue ahead of the high-level discussions.
Among the prominent delegates attending the meeting were Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and senior representatives from other BRICS nations and partner countries.
Following their arrival, the leaders participated in an official group photograph session with EAM Jaishankar before the commencement of formal proceedings.
The External Affairs Minister is scheduled to chair the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting later in the day as part of India’s ongoing chairship responsibilities for the grouping in 2026.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the meeting will bring together foreign ministers and heads of delegations from BRICS member and partner countries to deliberate on a range of global and regional issues of mutual interest.
The visiting delegations are also expected to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their stay in New Delhi.
Officials described the meeting as the first major ministerial-level engagement under India’s BRICS chairship and said it is likely to help shape the agenda for the BRICS Leaders’ Summit scheduled to take place later this year.
During a recent weekly media briefing, the Ministry of External Affairs stated that discussions during the two-day meeting are expected to focus on major geopolitical developments, strengthening multilateral cooperation among member countries and advancing reforms in global governance institutions.
The ministry also indicated that evolving international political and economic challenges are likely to feature prominently in the deliberations.
“The meeting of the BRICS Foreign Ministers is scheduled for the 14th and 15th May, and we are presiding over it,” the MEA had stated ahead of the event.
Officials noted that participating countries would decide the level of representation for the meeting and additional details regarding delegations would be shared after the arrival of representatives in New Delhi.
India recently unveiled the official logo and dedicated website for its BRICS 2026 chairship under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
According to officials, the theme reflects India’s emphasis on a people-centric and “Humanity First” approach, a concept repeatedly highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2025 BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro.
This marks the fourth occasion on which India is hosting a BRICS summit level engagement, reflecting New Delhi’s expanding role within the grouping and its increasing engagement with countries of the Global South.
