New Delhi: High-level meetings with heads of state will be a key element of India’s foreign policy this year, with New Delhi set to host a series of engagements beginning with the India-EU summit this month.
The India-EU summit, which could see the signing of the much-anticipated free trade agreement, will be followed by the AI Impact summit in February. Later in the year, India will host the BRICS summit. According to officials, New Delhi could also hold an India-Africa summit this year.
The India-EU summit will take place during the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, where the EU leadership has been invited as guests of honour. According to experts, AI summit could present New Delhi an opportunity to shape the agenda for the Global South instead of it being driven by the West or China.
The AI summit will be attended by the president of Brazil and the prime minister of Canada, among others. The French President is also expected to participate.
The BRICS summit will likely see participation from Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. If Xi visits, it will be his first since 2019. ET has learnt that at the BRICS summit, India will press for reforms of multilateral institutions and push an inclusive agenda for the Global South.
Also in focus will US President Donald Trump’s likely trip to India for the Quad summit this year which India is planning. In the runup to the summit, India and the US hope to conclude their much-anticipated trade deal. Experts say the trade deal and Trump’s visit could help remove irritants in the relationship. The US will be hosting G20 summit later this year.
On the bilateral summits front, India will host its annual summit with Japan, while Russia will host the annual India-Russia summit.
The first woman prime minister of Japan is expected to travel to India for the summit, which will focus on increasing Japanese investments in India and consolidating critical technology partnerships.
Also being planned is the India-Nordic summit which will focus on economic partnership and mobility. It will be hosted by Norway.
Among the leaders visiting India in 2026 will be the German Chancellor and the Israeli prime minister.
