President Prabowo Subianto arrives in New Delhi for 18th BRICS Summit

President Prabowo Subianto arrives in New Delhi for 18th BRICS Summit

President Prabowo Subianto arrived at Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi, India, on Friday, September 11, 2026, to participate in the 18th BRICS Summit scheduled for September 12-13. The Indonesian leader's arrival marks a significant milestone as Indonesia attends its first BRICS Summit as a full member, having officially joined the bloc on January 6, 2025, as the first Southeast Asian nation to do so.

The presidential aircraft was greeted with a red carpet and honor guard ceremony at the airbase. Indian Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey received President Prabowo alongside other host officials. Foreign Minister Sugiono and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya accompanied the president as part of the Indonesian delegation.

During the welcoming ceremony, Minister Dubey emphasized the strategic partnership between the two nations.

India and Indonesia, as key partners among developing countries in the Indo-Pacific region, share the same vision of cooperation, inclusive growth, and mutual prosperity,

Dubey stated, adding that a strong partnership within the BRICS framework will amplify the voice of the Global South.

Summit Venue and India's Chairship

The summit convenes at Bharat Mandapam, a state-of-the-art international exhibition and convention center at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The venue previously gained global recognition by hosting the G20 Leaders' Summit in September 2023.

India is holding the BRICS Chairship for the fourth time in 2026, having previously chaired the organization in 2012, 2016, and 2021. After assuming the chairship on January 1, 2026, India has organized over 350 meetings and high-level engagements in more than 25 cities across the country to strengthen BRICS strategic partnership across three fundamental pillars: political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

The 2026 summit operates under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," reflecting India's focus on people-centric development and stronger cooperation among BRICS countries. The gathering also marks a significant milestone as BRICS completes twenty years since leaders of the original BRIC countries first met in St. Petersburg, Russia, in July 2006.

Attending Leaders and Representatives

More than 20 national leaders, observers, and heads of international institutions are attending the New Delhi summit. Notable dignitaries include Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Representatives from major international institutions are also participating, including World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, New Development Bank President Dilma Rousseff, and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank President Zou Jiayi.

BRICS Membership and Indonesia's Accession

BRICS currently comprises 11 full member countries: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. The organization expanded significantly on January 1, 2024, when Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates joined as full members, representing the first expansion since South Africa joined in 2011.

Indonesia's path to membership began when BRICS leaders endorsed its candidacy at the Johannesburg summit in August 2023. However, formal accession was delayed due to the country's presidential election and governmental transition. President Prabowo Subianto made joining BRICS a priority shortly after entering office in October 2024, reflecting the strategic importance of the bloc to Indonesia's foreign policy.

The economic significance of BRICS for Indonesia is substantial. In 2024, Indonesia's trade with BRICS nations totaled approximately $150 billion, with top exports including palm oil, coal, natural gas, and rubber. This robust trade relationship underscores Indonesia's strategic interest in deepening cooperation with the bloc's member countries.