UN Chief Likely To Hold Talks With PM Modi During BRICS Summit Visit
UN chief expected to meet PM Modi during BRICS summit.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to India for the upcoming BRICS summit, according to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. The UN has not formally announced the visit, but Dujarric confirmed that Guterres will attend the summit and indicated that a meeting with Modi is likely.
The visit will mark Guterres’ second trip to India this year and his fifth visit to the country during his tenure as UN Secretary-General. He was also in New Delhi in February for the India-AI Impact Summit. His expected participation in the BRICS gathering comes as the grouping prepares to bring together leaders from its member countries for discussions on economic cooperation and major global challenges.
Guterres could also have an opportunity to meet other major leaders attending the summit, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The meeting could be particularly significant as Guterres approaches the final months of his tenure. Putin and Xi are expected to attend the BRICS summit but are set to skip the annual high-level UN General Assembly meeting later this month.
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The BRICS summit is taking place against the backdrop of major international conflicts, including the Ukraine war and the Iran conflict, along with concerns over food security and progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Leaders from the expanded BRICS grouping are expected to discuss issues affecting developing economies and the wider international order. India, which is chairing the summit, has chosen the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Guterres’ expected meeting with Modi would provide an opportunity for discussions on issues of international peace and security, sustainable development and multilateral cooperation. The UN chief has consistently highlighted the importance of cooperation on climate change, development and global challenges during his tenure, areas that also broadly correspond with the priorities outlined for India’s BRICS presidency.
The BRICS summit begins on September 12 and is expected to bring together leaders from the ten-member grouping as well as representatives of partner countries. For Guterres, the gathering could provide one of his final opportunities to engage directly with Modi, Putin and Xi at a major international forum before his term as UN Secretary-General comes to an end.
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