Indian premier Modi hopes for 'positive, meaningful' discussions at BRICS summit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed hope for “positive” and “meaningful” discussions at the BRICS summit to be held in the Indian capital New Delhi over the weekend.

BRICS, originally known as the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa grouping, has expanded to include several other countries.

Modi said in a post on US social media company X that over the next few days, leaders from around the world will gather for the BRICS Summit.

“I am fully confident that there will be positive and meaningful discussions on various issues with a shared wish for global welfare," Modi said.

The remarks by Modi come as New Delhi is hosting a summit of the BRICS bloc amid ongoing wars between Russia and Ukraine and between the US and Iran.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin are among the leaders who arrived on Friday in the Indian capital to attend the summit.

As many as 26 leaders and dignitaries are expected to attend, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

The expanded BRICS membership includes founding members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, as well as more recent members Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The group also has partner countries, including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

The last BRICS summit was held last year in Brazil, with China due to host the 2027 summit.