India officially commenced hosting the diplomatic proceedings of the 18th BRICS Summit at the state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam convention complex in New Delhi on September 12, welcoming heads of state, foreign ministers, and diplomatic delegations from member countries, according to coverage by The Economic Times.
The high-level diplomatic summit marks the first major gathering hosted by India following the historic expansion of the multilateral grouping, which welcomed new members including Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia alongside founding nations Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The summit’s central themes focus on strengthening multilateralism, advancing South-South cooperation, expanding local-currency cross-border trade settlements, and accelerating collective development financing through the New Development Bank (NDB).
During ministerial opening sessions, Indian diplomatic representatives emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive reforms within global multilateral institutions, including the United Nations Security Council, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank, to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities and amplify the voice of the Global South.
Security across the national capital was placed on high alert, with specialized coordination between the Special Protection Group (SPG), Delhi Police, and central paramilitary forces to manage diplomatic motorcades and convention venues throughout the summit proceedings.
