EAM Jaishankar welcomes foreign ministers & representatives for Delhi BRICS meet

India formally hosted the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting on May 14–15, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, inaugurating the substantive phase of India's...

What Happened

India formally hosted the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting on May 14–15, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, inaugurating the substantive phase of India's 2026 BRICS Chairmanship.
This is the fourth time India has held the BRICS presidency, having previously hosted summits in 2012, 2016, and 2021.
India assumed the Chairmanship on January 1, 2026, succeeding Brazil; the theme for India's presidency is "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability."
The External Affairs Minister welcomed delegations from all 10 full members and several observer/partner nation representatives for discussions spanning economic cooperation, multilateral reform, trade challenges, and development.
China was represented by its Ambassador rather than the Foreign Minister, reflecting diplomatic nuances in the post-boundary-negotiations phase of India-China relations.
Bilateral meetings held on the sidelines included discussions with counterparts from Russia, Brazil, Maldives, and South Africa.
The Foreign Ministers' Meeting is preparatory to the BRICS Leaders' Summit, scheduled to be held in New Delhi later in 2026.

Static Topic Bridges

BRICS — Origin, Structure, and India's Engagement

BRICS originated as BRIC — an economist's acronym coined by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill in 2001 to identify the four fastest-growing emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, and China. The grouping became a formal diplomatic entity at its first summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on June 16, 2009. South Africa joined in 2010, transforming BRIC into BRICS. The 2024 Kazan Summit (Russia's presidency) was the most transformative: Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and UAE joined as full members; Indonesia formalised its membership in early 2025. BRICS operates on consensus with no permanent secretariat — the Chair rotates annually among members in English alphabetical order.

BRIC coined: 2001, Jim O'Neill (Goldman Sachs economist).
First BRIC Summit: June 16, 2009, Yekaterinburg, Russia.
South Africa joined: September 2010; first full summit as member: 2011.
2024 expansion (Kazan Summit): Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE became full members.
Indonesia joined: Early 2025 (first Southeast Asian full member).
Current full members (10): Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE, Indonesia.
BRICS partner countries: New category created at 2024 Kazan; ~13 countries invited.
New Development Bank (NDB): BRICS multilateral development bank; established 2014, HQ Shanghai; lends for infrastructure and sustainable development.

Connection to this news: India's fourth BRICS presidency carries special significance because the grouping has nearly doubled in size since India last hosted in 2021. Managing consensus among 10 ideologically diverse members — including adversaries Iran and UAE — is a more complex diplomatic challenge than before.

India's BRICS Presidency History and Strategic Use

India has used each BRICS presidency to advance specific thematic priorities. The 2012 New Delhi Summit (fourth BRICS summit) focused on intra-BRICS trade and the feasibility of a BRICS bank (which became the NDB, agreed in 2014 at Fortaleza). The 2016 Goa Summit saw India push for the BRICS Comprehensive Action Plan against terrorism and the establishment of the BRICS Agricultural Research Platform. The 2021 virtual summit under India focused on intra-BRICS cooperation on COVID-19 and the Digital Economy Partnership Framework.

2012 (New Delhi, 4th Summit): Foundations laid for the BRICS Development Bank concept.
2014 (Fortaleza, Brazil): NDB formally agreed; Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) also established — a $100 billion emergency fund.
2016 (Goa, India): BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan; BRICS Agricultural Research Platform.
2021 (Virtual, India): COVID-19 vaccine access; Digital Economy Partnership; reformed multilateralism push.
2026 theme: "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability."

Connection to this news: The 2026 Delhi meeting's agenda — multilateral reform (including UN Security Council reform), energy security, trade, and counter-terrorism — reflects India's strategic use of the chairmanship to advance its global governance priorities.

Multilateral Reform and UN Security Council Reform

A recurring Indian demand at BRICS and other multilateral forums is reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). India argues that the UNSC's current composition — five permanent members (P5: US, UK, France, China, Russia) with veto power, elected 10 non-permanent members for two-year terms — does not reflect the contemporary balance of global power. India seeks a permanent seat in an expanded UNSC under the G4 framework (India, Brazil, Germany, Japan), which advocates adding new permanent members without veto power initially. The BRICS grouping is split on this: China and Russia support reform in principle but have avoided endorsing India's permanent membership candidacy explicitly.

UNSC composition: 15 members — 5 permanent (P5) with veto, 10 elected non-permanent.
Charter provision for reform: Article 108 of the UN Charter requires a two-thirds majority of all UN members + ratification by all P5 for any Charter amendment.
G4: India, Brazil, Germany, Japan — advocate for expanded UNSC with new permanent members.
Uniting for Consensus (UFC): A group led by Italy, Pakistan, South Korea, Argentina that opposes new permanent members and advocates only expanded non-permanent membership.
India's UNSC non-permanent membership: Most recently served in 2021-22.

Connection to this news: India's 2026 BRICS presidency agenda explicitly includes "reformed multilateralism, including reform of the UN Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories" — a direct articulation of India's G4 position, embedded in a multilateral South-South platform.

Key Facts & Data

BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting: May 14–15, 2026, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
India's BRICS presidencies: 2012, 2016, 2021, 2026 (fourth time).
Chairmanship rotation: Annual, in English alphabetical order; Brazil handed over to India on January 1, 2026.
2026 BRICS theme: "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability."
NDB (New Development Bank): Established 2014; HQ Shanghai; initial authorised capital $100 billion.
Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA): $100 billion emergency fund; agreed 2014.
"BRIC" term coined: 2001 by Jim O'Neill, Goldman Sachs.
First BRICS Summit: June 16, 2009, Yekaterinburg, Russia.
G4 for UNSC reform: India, Brazil, Germany, Japan.
UN Charter Article 108: Procedure for Charter amendments (requires two-thirds majority + all P5 ratification).