President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will travel to New Delhi, India, to participate in the 18th BRICS Summit from September 12 to 13, 2026, marking his first attendance at the annual gathering. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the President’s participation comes at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Marcos attending in his capacity as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2026.
Strategic Engagement and ASEAN Priorities
During the summit, President Marcos plans to outline the Philippines’ core priorities as the 2026 ASEAN Chair to the member countries of BRICS. According to DFA Spokesperson Analyn Ratonel, these key areas center on peace and security, people empowerment, and prosperity. The summit’s official theme in India is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” focusing heavily on addressing global economic uncertainties, leveraging new digital public infrastructure, and accelerating collective climate action.
Ratonel noted during a Malacañang press briefing that building a formal dialogue between ASEAN, led by the Philippines, and BRICS, led by India, creates a strategic opportunity for trade diversification and regional security. The summit brings together major emerging markets and developing countries, providing a direct platform to present Southeast Asian perspectives on sustainable development and agriculture.
Bilateral Talks and Trade Follow-Ups
Alongside multilateral discussions at the summit, President Marcos is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the DFA, both leaders will review the progress of the Philippines-India Strategic Partnership and check the implementation of the five-year plan of action spanning 2025 to 2029.
The President’s itinerary also includes meetings with Indian business leaders aimed at strengthening bilateral trade and investment. Ratonel stated that these economic engagements serve as a direct follow-up to pledges and commitments made by Indian companies during the President’s state visit to the country in August 2025.
Delegation and Expansion of BRICS
President Marcos will be accompanied in New Delhi by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Teresa Lazaro, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda, and Finance Secretary Frederick Go.
The BRICS bloc, originally founded by Brazil, Russia, India, and China in 2009 with its first summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009, has undergone significant expansion. South Africa joined in 2011, followed by Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates in 2024, and Indonesia in 2025. Additionally, the bloc admitted 10 partner countries in 2025, including Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.