BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meet: Indonesia's Sugiono arrives in New Delhi
Synopsis
As India's BRICS chairship year gets its first major diplomatic test, Foreign Ministers from member and partner nations converge on New Delhi for a two-day meeting chaired by EAM Jaishankar. With a 'BRICS at 20' session and a global governance reform agenda on the table, Indonesia's FM Sugiono is among the first to arrive — signalling serious multilateral momentum.
Key Takeaways
Indonesian FM Sugiono arrived in New Delhi on 14 May 2025 for the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting .
Jaishankar will chair the two-day meeting scheduled for 14–15 May , hosted by India.
Visiting ministers will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the summit.
Day two features a 'BRICS at 20' thematic session and talks on global governance reforms .
India holds the BRICS Chair in 2026 under the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability' .
The last BRICS FM meeting was held on 26 September 2025 on the margins of the 80th UNGA session .
Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono arrived in New Delhi early on Wednesday, 14 May 2025, ahead of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting hosted by India on 14–15 May. His arrival marks one of several high-level diplomatic engagements converging on the capital as India exercises its role as BRICS Chair 2026.
Warm Welcome from MEA
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) extended a formal welcome to the Indonesian minister, noting his presence at the multilateral gathering. The meeting will be chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who is hosting foreign ministers and heads of delegations from both BRICS member and partner countries.
According to the MEA, the visiting ministers will also call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their stay in New Delhi.
Key Agenda Items
The two-day meeting carries a packed diplomatic agenda. On the first day, BRICS Foreign Ministers will exchange views on global and regional issues of mutual interest. The second day features a thematic session titled 'BRICS at 20: Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability', followed by a dedicated session on reforms of global governance and the multilateral system.
The theme directly reflects the people-centric, humanity-first approach articulated by Prime Minister Modi at the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 2025.
India's BRICS Chairship in 2026
India holds the BRICS Chair in 2026, guided by the theme of 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'. The last BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting took place on the margins of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 26 September 2025, chaired by India as the incoming chair.
Hosting the Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi is a significant early milestone in India's chairship year, signalling the country's intent to set the multilateral agenda on governance reform, economic resilience, and South-South cooperation.
BRICS: A Brief History
BRIC was formalised at the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York in 2006. The inaugural BRIC Summit was convened in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009. The grouping expanded to BRICS with the inclusion of South Africa, agreed at the BRIC Foreign Ministers' meeting in New York in 2010; South Africa attended the third BRICS Summit in 2011.
With the bloc now marking two decades of existence, the 'BRICS at 20' session is expected to take stock of the grouping's evolution and chart its course amid a rapidly shifting global order. All eyes will be on whether the New Delhi meeting produces a consensus statement on multilateral reform — a litmus test for India's chairship ambitions.
Point of View
Not merely manage, the bloc's agenda. The 'BRICS at 20' framing is particularly telling: it invites a reckoning with what the grouping has actually delivered against its founding ambitions on trade, governance, and development finance. With the Global South fracturing over Ukraine, Gaza, and dollar dependency, India faces the delicate task of holding together a coalition of divergent interests while projecting a coherent reform agenda. Whether the New Delhi meeting produces more than a communiqué will be the real measure of India's chairship credibility.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi about?
The BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting, hosted by India on 14–15 May, brings together foreign ministers and heads of delegations from BRICS member and partner countries to discuss global and regional issues, governance reform, and the bloc's direction at its 20-year mark. EAM S. Jaishankar will chair the proceedings.
Why has Indonesia's FM Sugiono travelled to New Delhi?
Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono arrived in New Delhi to participate in the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting as a representative of Indonesia, which holds partner-country status in the grouping. His visit is part of broader diplomatic engagement under India's BRICS chairship.
What is India's role in BRICS in 2026?
India holds the BRICS Chair in 2026, guided by the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'. The chairship was formally acknowledged at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 2025, where PM Modi articulated a people-centric, humanity-first approach.
When was the last BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting held?
The previous BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting was held on 26 September 2025, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, and was chaired by India in its capacity as the incoming BRICS Chair for 2026.
What is the history of BRICS?
BRIC was formalised at a Foreign Ministers' meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York in 2006, with the first BRIC Summit held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009. South Africa joined in 2010, transforming the group into BRICS, and attended its first BRICS Summit in 2011.
