Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim departed for New Delhi on Friday to attend the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, which India is hosting over the weekend. During his visit, Ibrahim is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other leaders, as Malaysia participates in the expanded BRICS grouping as a partner country.
In a post on X, Ibrahim said he would meet Prime Minister Modi as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. Modi and Ibrahim are scheduled to hold bilateral talks in New Delhi on Saturday, with discussions expected to cover areas of mutual interest between India and Malaysia.
Ibrahim’s itinerary also includes a visit to Kerala, where he is scheduled to meet India’s Grand Mufti. According to the Malaysian Prime Minister, the meeting will provide an opportunity to exchange views on community development, education and religious affairs. Following his engagements in India, Ibrahim is scheduled to travel to Male in the Maldives for an official visit at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu.
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India, which is serving as BRICS Chair in 2026, will host the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Leaders of BRICS member countries, partner nations and Outreach Invitees are expected to participate. India’s chairship is guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, reflecting the government’s emphasis on a people-centric approach rooted in the principle of “Humanity First.”
During the summit, leaders are expected to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation among BRICS countries on shared priorities and exchange views on major global and regional developments. The grouping includes Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, while Malaysia is among its partner countries.
India is a founding member of BRICS and has previously held the chairship in 2012, 2016 and 2021. The country assumed its fourth BRICS chairship on January 1, 2026. This year also marks 20 years since the establishment of BRICS, adding significance to India’s leadership of the grouping and the summit in New Delhi.
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