Modi to Meet Putin Bilaterally as India Presides Over 2026 BRICS Summit
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Leaders Summit on September 12 and 13 in New Delhi, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairing the meeting as the country takes over the bloc's presidency. A bilateral meeting between Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin is set for Friday, September 11, during the opening days of the summit. Leaders expected to attend include Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and others.
A pre‑summit gathering of BRICS finance ministers and central bank governors will be held in Mumbai on September 9‑10. India is also highlighting digital‑payment solutions such as India Stack while navigating U.S. pressure over de‑dollarisation efforts.
How this was covered
- The two sides describe this in almost entirely different words
Why it matters
The summit brings together the major emerging economies to discuss economic and diplomatic issues that affect global markets and regional stability.
How the sides frame it
LOW AGREEMENTCentrist coverage frames the summit around India's effort to redefine BRICS purpose and push reforms of Western-dominated institutions, while right-leaning coverage focuses on Brazil’s diplomat rejecting an anti-Western portrayal of the bloc and denying de-dollarisation claims.
CENTER
Centrist coverage highlights India’s agenda to reshape BRICS with a new slogan, promote strategic autonomy and seek reforms of global governance dominated by the West.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage stresses Brazil’s diplomatic rebuttal of anti-Western framing and refutes suggestions that BRICS aims to challenge the US dollar or create a joint currency.
The right emphasises
- Brazil’s top diplomat cautions against characterising BRICS as an anti-Western bloc
- He dismisses claims that BRICS intends to challenge the US dollar or pursue de-dollarisation
- He refutes speculation about a joint BRICS currency
How this story developed
- Sep 4 India Hosts 2026 BRICS Leaders Summit with Global Leaders in New Delhi
- Sep 9 A bilateral meeting between Modi and Putin has been added to the summit agenda.
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