United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his upcoming visit to India for the BRICS summit, according to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
Speaking at a briefing on Tuesday, Dujarric said Guterres’ visit had not yet been formally announced but confirmed that the UN chief would attend the BRICS gathering. He also indicated that a meeting between Guterres and Modi was likely during the summit.
The visit would mark Guterres’ second trip to India this year and his fifth since becoming UN secretary-general. His previous visit came in February, when he attended the India-AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
The BRICS meeting could hold particular significance for Guterres as he enters the final months of his tenure. The summit provides an opportunity for him to interact with several major world leaders who are not expected to attend the upcoming high-level session of the UN General Assembly later this month.
Among them are Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both leaders are expected to travel to India for the BRICS summit, potentially making the gathering one of Guterres’ last opportunities to engage with them as secretary-general.
The summit is also taking place against the backdrop of major international conflicts, including the war in Ukraine and the conflict involving Iran. These crises have created wider challenges for global food security and have put additional pressure on efforts to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
India, which is chairing the BRICS grouping, has selected the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability” for this year’s summit. The priorities closely reflect several issues Guterres has emphasized during his decade leading the United Nations.
The BRICS gathering is scheduled to begin on September 12. Along with Modi, Putin and Xi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to attend. Leaders from the broader 10-member BRICS grouping are also set to participate.
For Guterres, the India visit could therefore become an important diplomatic engagement near the end of his tenure, bringing together leaders from major global powers at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions.
