Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, from 12 to 13 September 2026 at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The South African government announced the visit on Friday, saying the summit will be held under India’s chairship theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Security.”
According to the government, the summit will focus on strengthening cooperation among BRICS members, with particular attention to trade and investment, financial and institutional cooperation and reforms of global governance structures.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the government said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Summit takes place from 12–13 September 2026 under India’s Chairship theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Security.”… pic.twitter.com/T3iyNp35Cn
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) September 10, 2026
The summit comes as the expanded BRICS bloc faces growing geopolitical and economic pressures, including tensions in the Middle East and disruptions to global trade and energy routes.
Reuters reports that leaders are expected to grapple with divisions within the expanded grouping, particularly between Iran and the United Arab Emirates over the war in Iran.
The news agency said the conflict has affected oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed crude prices above $100 a barrel.
The 2026 summit will also bring together major BRICS leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
India is also pushing initiatives aimed at deepening economic and technological cooperation within the bloc.
Greater Integration
Aording to Indian Express reports that leaders are expected to consider a BRICS Incubator Network, a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund and a Logistics Supply-Chain Cooperation Framework.
Financial cooperation is also expected to feature prominently. India is advocating greater integration of central bank digital currencies among BRICS members to facilitate cross-border payments, although political and technical obstacles remain.
For South Africa, Ramaphosa’s participation provides an opportunity to advance the country’s trade, investment and broader economic interests within the expanded BRICS grouping.
The South African government said the summit would also address “advancing reforms of the United Nations and international financial institutions”, reflecting BRICS members’ longstanding push for greater representation of developing countries in global decision-making.
The meeting will be the first BRICS leaders’ summit hosted by India since the grouping expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates alongside Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
