NEW DELHI, Sept 11: The 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit is set to begin in New Delhi on Saturday, with leaders of the expanded grouping expected to deliberate on global governance, multilateralism, trade, investment, technology, food and energy security, health, disaster resilience and critical supply chains amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
The two-day summit, to be held on September 12 and 13, will also witness discussions on major global and regional developments, including ongoing geopolitical conflicts and disruptions to global trade and energy routes.
The summit will open on Saturday afternoon with a closed-door meeting of BRICS member countries at 2.35 pm on the theme “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism”.
The leaders will subsequently visit the Bharat Innovates Exhibition at 4.25 pm, followed by an official family photograph and a joint tree-planting ceremony at 5.05 pm. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a gala dinner for the visiting leaders at 7.30 pm.
On Sunday, leaders of BRICS member countries, partner countries and outreach invitees are scheduled to begin arriving at the summit venue at 9.55 am.
An official group photograph is scheduled for 10.35 am, ahead of the main open session at 10.50 am. The session will be held under the theme “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth”.
The summit is expected to conclude with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration.
Delhi under tight security
The national capital has been placed under a multilayered security arrangement ahead of the arrival of a large number of foreign leaders and senior dignitaries.
Around 15,000 Delhi Police personnel and 200 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed for the summit, while nearly 500 CCTV cameras have been installed at key locations for round-the-clock surveillance.
Security has been particularly tightened around the diplomatic enclave and hotels where the visiting leaders will stay. China, Russia and Iran have been allotted separate hotels, with security personnel from the respective countries reaching Delhi ahead of their presidents.
The security arrangements also include restrictions on airspace and aerial activity. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has restricted certain flying activities across seven northern states, while the use of light and micro-light aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and similar aerial platforms has been prohibited within a 300-km radius of Delhi for 52 hours from Friday.
Traffic restrictions and regulation of public movement are also expected along important routes and around key venues during the summit.
The New Delhi railway station will witness changes in train operations during the summit period, including cancellations, diversions, rescheduling and regulation of services.
The diplomatic gathering is also expected to attract a sizeable international media contingent, with around 1,200-1,300 journalists expected to cover the summit.
Delhi has been extensively prepared for the event, with Bharat Mandapam serving as the centre of the two-day diplomatic gathering.
The expanded BRICS grouping’s deliberations are being closely watched amid continuing geopolitical conflicts, economic uncertainties and disruptions to global trade and energy corridors. The New Delhi summit is expected to provide an opportunity for member and partner countries to discuss greater cooperation on these issues while pushing for reforms in global governance institutions.
