Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is scheduled to visit India in May to participate in a BRICS ministerial meeting, as confirmed by Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko. The meeting, set for May 14-15, will shape the final documents to be presented at the BRICS summit under India’s presidency. Additionally, Lavrov will conduct a separate working visit to India to engage with Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and other Indian officials.
India, currently holding the BRICS chair for 2026, is focusing on the theme of ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.’ This theme aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on a people-centric and humanity-first approach, as highlighted during the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 2025. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reiterated India’s commitment to strengthening ties with Russia under its BRICS chairship, emphasizing a collaborative approach to address mutual challenges.
The BRIC formation originated during a meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 2006. The inaugural BRIC Summit took place in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009, leading to the expansion of BRIC into BRICS with the inclusion of South Africa in 2010. Over time, additional countries like Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Indonesia joined as full members or partner countries, enhancing the group’s diversity and reach.
