The summit, themed around strengthening cooperation among the Global South for inclusive and sustainable governance, comes at a critical juncture as India prepares to host the BRICS summit in 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to Rio de Janeiro from 5 to 8 July to attend the annual BRICS summit, with key discussions expected on artificial intelligence, climate action, global health and the reform of international governance systems.
The summit, themed around strengthening cooperation among the Global South for inclusive and sustainable governance, comes at a critical juncture as India prepares to host the BRICS summit in 2026. Officials say the gathering will provide an important platform for emerging economies to set the tone on shared global challenges.
Modi is scheduled to arrive in Rio on the evening of 5 July and will hold a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines. Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping are expected to skip the summit, according to news agency PTI.
Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, described Modi’s visit as “especially significant”, underlining India’s intent to advance key issues ahead of its turn as host.
The official agenda includes deliberations on multilateralism, global health frameworks, economic and financial cooperation, and preparations for COP30—the UN Climate Change Conference due to be held in Brazil this November. The Indian delegation is also expected to push for responsible development and deployment of artificial intelligence, in line with India’s domestic focus on ethical AI innovation.
“The summit’s agenda encapsulates the ideas of the Global South and is in alignment with India’s positions,” Ravi said during a special media briefing on 30 June.
Following the summit, Modi will remain in Brazil for an official state visit, during which he is expected to hold bilateral talks aimed at boosting cooperation between India and Brazil in areas such as defence, space, energy, health, technology, agriculture and trade.
The summit comes amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, with BRICS nations increasingly calling for a more equitable global order and a stronger voice for developing countries within international institutions.
