Modi, Ramaphosa meet at BRICS Summit; India-SA ties, Global South on agenda
Synopsis
On the sidelines of India's BRICS chairmanship summit, PM Modi and South African President Ramaphosa reviewed trade, critical minerals, and cheetah diplomacy — with Modi inviting Pretoria to join the International Big Cat Alliance. The meeting signals a deepening India-Africa partnership framed around Global South solidarity and a push for a more balanced multilateral order.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on 13 September 2026 on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi .
Talks covered the India-SACU trade agreement , critical minerals, infrastructure, food security, digital public infrastructure, and skilling.
PM Modi invited South Africa to join the International Big Cat Alliance , citing the successful cheetah translocation programme.
The MEA said both leaders agreed to maintain close coordination in multilateral fora on global issues of mutual interest.
Jaishankar , NSA Ajit Doval , and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri were present at the bilateral meeting.
India is hosting the summit as BRICS chair for 2026 at Bharat Mandapam ; the bloc now has 11 full members and 10 partner countries .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sunday, 13 September 2026, with the two leaders reviewing the full scope of the India-South Africa strategic partnership and exchanging views on pressing global issues.
Key Areas of Discussion
The two leaders assessed progress across multiple areas of cooperation, including the proposed India-SACU trade agreement, mining and critical minerals, infrastructure, food security, digital public infrastructure, emerging technologies, and skilling initiatives. According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), they reaffirmed that the relationship between the two nations is grounded in 'shared historical struggles, strong cultural affinities, robust economic ties, and deep people-to-people connections.'
Big Cat Alliance Invitation
In a notable development, Prime Minister Modi invited South Africa to consider joining the International Big Cat Alliance, citing the successful translocation of cheetahs from South Africa to India as context. The MEA statement noted that the two leaders agreed to maintain close coordination in multilateral fora on a range of global issues of mutual interest. This invitation reflects India's growing ambition to lead international conservation partnerships following the landmark cheetah reintroduction programme.
What PM Modi Said
Modi shared his remarks on X (formerly Twitter) after the meeting, saying: 'Delighted to meet President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Delhi. We reviewed the full breadth of the India-South Africa Strategic Partnership including: The India-SACU trade agreement. Mining and critical minerals. Infrastructure. Food security. DPI and emerging technologies. Skilling. Our partnership is rooted in history and firmly focused on the future. We will work closely for Africa's progress, the priorities of the Global South and a more balanced global order.'
Senior Officials Present
The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and other senior officials on the Indian side. Prior to the formal discussions, the two leaders warmly greeted each other and were introduced to members of each other's delegations.
India's BRICS Chairmanship in Focus
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit as the bloc's chair for 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. President Ramaphosa, alongside other BRICS leaders, also visited the Bharat Innovates Exposition and participated in a tree plantation initiative during his visit. BRICS now comprises 11 full members — Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates — along with 10 partner countries including Belarus, Cuba, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. The bilateral meeting between Modi and Ramaphosa adds diplomatic weight to India's BRICS presidency and signals a coordinated push on Global South priorities ahead of the summit's conclusions.
Point of View
As New Delhi competes with Beijing for resource and trade influence across Africa. The Big Cat Alliance invitation, while seemingly niche, is soft-power statecraft at its most efficient — leveraging a conservation success to build institutional linkages. The real question is whether these bilateral threads translate into binding deliverables, or remain framework-level statements that add to an already long list of India-Africa declarations with uneven follow-through.
NationPress
13 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did PM Modi meet South African President Ramaphosa at the BRICS Summit?
PM Modi and President Ramaphosa held a bilateral meeting on 13 September 2026 on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi to review the India-South Africa strategic partnership and discuss global issues of mutual interest, including trade, critical minerals, and Global South priorities.
What is the International Big Cat Alliance and why was South Africa invited to join?
The International Big Cat Alliance is an India-led conservation initiative focused on protecting big cat species globally. PM Modi invited South Africa to consider joining the alliance in the context of the successful translocation of cheetahs from South Africa to India, which has been a flagship wildlife cooperation project between the two countries.
What specific areas did India and South Africa agree to work on?
According to the MEA, the two leaders discussed the India-SACU trade agreement, mining and critical minerals, infrastructure, food security, digital public infrastructure, emerging technologies, and skilling. They also agreed to coordinate closely in multilateral forums on global issues.
What is the significance of India hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in 2026?
India holds the BRICS chairmanship for 2026 and is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The summit brings together leaders of BRICS member countries, partner nations, and outreach invitees, giving India a platform to shape the bloc's agenda on Global South issues.
Which countries are currently members of BRICS?
BRICS currently has 11 full members: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. An additional 10 countries — Belarus, Cuba, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam — hold partner country status.
