Jaishankar hosts BRICS Foreign Ministers at Bharat Mandapam under India's 2026 chairship
Synopsis
India's BRICS moment is here — and New Delhi is making it count. With Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, Iran's Araghchi, and Indonesia's Sugiono all at Bharat Mandapam, the two-day Foreign Ministers' Meeting is the first major test of India's 2026 chairship and a direct preview of the agenda for the BRICS Leaders' Summit later this year.
Key Takeaways
Jaishankar personally welcomed delegates at Bharat Mandapam , New Delhi , on 14 May 2025 .
The BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting runs 14–15 May and is the first major ministerial engagement under India's 2026 BRICS chairship .
Key attendees include Russian FM Sergey Lavrov , Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi , and Indonesian FM Sugiono .
Delegates are also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit.
India's chairship theme is 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability' .
This is the fourth time India has hosted a BRICS summit-level engagement.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on 14 May 2025 personally welcomed foreign ministers and senior diplomats from BRICS member and partner nations at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, as the two-day BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting got underway under India's 2026 chairship of the expanded grouping. The gathering marks the first major ministerial-level engagement since India assumed the BRICS chair.
Key Arrivals and Opening Formalities
Among the senior diplomats who arrived at Bharat Mandapam were Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono, along with several other foreign ministers and senior representatives from BRICS nations and partner countries. Following their arrival, the delegates gathered for an official group photograph with EAM Jaishankar, who is chairing the meeting.
What the Meeting Covers
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), deliberations over the 14–15 May sessions are expected to centre on major regional and global developments, strengthening multilateral cooperation among member nations, and advancing reforms in international governance structures in view of evolving geopolitical realities. The foreign ministers and heads of delegations from member and partner countries are also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit.
The MEA confirmed the broad framework at a weekly media briefing, noting that participating countries would determine the level of their own representation. 'The meeting of the BRICS Foreign Ministers is scheduled for the 14th and 15th May, and we are presiding over it,' the ministry stated.
India's BRICS 2026 Chairship Theme
India recently unveiled the official logo and dedicated website for its BRICS 2026 chairship under the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.' Officials said the theme reflects India's 'Humanity First' and people-centric approach — an idea that Prime Minister Modi had strongly emphasised during the 2025 BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro. This is the fourth occasion on which India is hosting a BRICS summit-level engagement, underscoring New Delhi's expanding role within the grouping and among Global South nations.
Significance for the Leaders' Summit
The Foreign Ministers' Meeting is expected to play a significant role in shaping the agenda for the BRICS Leaders' Summit scheduled later this year. As the convener, India is positioning the ministerial-level dialogue as a platform to consolidate consensus on multilateral reform ahead of the summit. Notably, this is the first such high-level engagement under the expanded BRICS format, which now includes partner nations beyond the original five members.
Point of View
And India's real task over these two days is to ensure the ministerial communiqué reflects its own priorities — multilateral reform and Global South solidarity — rather than being pulled toward either Moscow's or Beijing's framing. The Leaders' Summit agenda will be shaped here; what India concedes or defends in the room matters far more than the group photograph.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi about?
The BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting, held on 14–15 May 2025 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, brings together foreign ministers and senior diplomats from BRICS member and partner nations to exchange views on global and regional issues. It is the first major ministerial-level engagement under India's 2026 BRICS chairship and is expected to shape the agenda for the BRICS Leaders' Summit later this year.
Who are the key foreign ministers attending the BRICS meeting?
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono are among the prominent attendees. Several other foreign ministers and senior representatives from BRICS nations and partner countries are also participating.
What is India's theme for its BRICS 2026 chairship?
India's theme is 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.' Officials say it reflects India's 'Humanity First' and people-centric approach, a principle Prime Minister Modi had emphasised at the 2025 BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Will the BRICS delegates meet Prime Minister Modi?
Yes. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, foreign ministers and heads of delegations from BRICS member and partner countries are scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit.
How significant is India's role in BRICS?
This is the fourth time India has hosted a BRICS summit-level engagement, reflecting New Delhi's expanding role within the grouping and among Global South nations. India's 2026 chairship also marks its first time presiding over the expanded BRICS format that includes partner nations.
