United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, where he is expected to highlight the importance of multipolarity and reforms to multilateral institutions, including the UN Security Council.
Guterres will travel to New Delhi on Thursday for the summit, scheduled for September 12–13, during India’s 2026 BRICS chairship.
Guterres has been invited to address the Open Session on September 13 on the theme:
“Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth.”
According to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, the UN chief is expected to highlight how today’s economic, demographic and geopolitical realities differ significantly from those of 1945.
He is also expected to underline the importance of ensuring that global institutions reflect these contemporary realities.
According to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, the UN chief is expected to highlight how today’s economic, demographic and geopolitical realities differ significantly from those of 1945.
He is also expected to underline the importance of ensuring that global institutions reflect these contemporary realities.
Guterres is expected to argue that multipolarity can help bring greater balance to global systems and institutions.
However, he is also expected to stress that achieving this balance requires reforms to multilateral institutions, including the Bretton Woods system and the UN Security Council.
The discussion comes amid broader calls from emerging economies for greater representation in international decision-making.
Reforming the UN Security Council has been a longstanding priority for India and several other countries.
Critics of the current structure argue that the 15-member Council does not adequately represent the geopolitical and economic realities of the 21st century.
India has been seeking a permanent seat on the Security Council as part of its campaign for comprehensive reform of the UN’s principal decision-making body.
Guterres’ expected remarks on institutional reform therefore carry particular significance during India’s BRICS chairship.
During his visit, Guterres is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hold bilateral discussions with other officials attending the BRICS Summit.
The meetings are expected to provide an opportunity for discussions on global challenges and the future of multilateral cooperation.
India is serving as the BRICS Chair for 2026.
The country is a founding member of BRICS and has previously held the chairship in 2012, 2016 and 2021. India assumed its fourth BRICS chairship on January 1, coinciding with the grouping’s completion of 20 years.
The 18th BRICS Summit will bring together leaders from BRICS member and partner countries as well as outreach invitees.
The summit is expected to discuss several pressing global issues, including the economic consequences of the West Asia crisis.
India’s theme for its 2026 BRICS chairship is:
“Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
The theme reflects India’s focus on strengthening international cooperation while addressing economic and geopolitical challenges.
Guterres last visited India in February to participate in the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.
The summit was the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South and focused on the principles of People, Planet, and Progress.
His upcoming BRICS visit provides another opportunity for engagement with India on major global governance and international cooperation issues.
