China’s Wang Yi to Attend BRICS Security Meeting in India

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will travel to New Delhi from June 22 to 23 to attend the 16th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisors and High Representatives on National Security, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday. The visit comes at the invitation of India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and marks another high-level engagement between the two Asian giants amid ongoing efforts to stabilize bilateral ties.

Context: BRICS and India’s Chairmanship

The meeting takes place under India’s 2026 BRICS chairmanship, which the country assumed from Brazil on January 1. This is the first time India is leading the expanded BRICS format, which now includes 10 member countries following the group’s expansion at the 2023 Johannesburg Summit. India’s chairmanship is centered on the theme “Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability” (BRICS), with priorities including digital public infrastructure, global governance reform, and sustainable development, as TV BRICS reported.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has articulated a vision for the grouping that emphasizes a people-centric approach and the spirit of “Humanity First,” drawing on India’s experience during its G-20 presidency. The 18th BRICS Summit is scheduled for September 2026, also to be hosted by India. The NSA meeting serves as a critical preparatory forum where senior security officials align positions and draft agenda items for the leaders’ summit.

Key Developments: What to Expect

Wang Yi, who serves as a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, will exchange views with other BRICS member states on the current international security situation and major international and regional issues, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, as India Today reported.

The BRICS National Security Advisors Meeting serves as a high-level platform that brings together the NSAs of member states to discuss joint responses to traditional and non-traditional security challenges and to prepare for the upcoming summit. The 15th meeting was hosted by Brazil in Brasilia in 2025. Topics on the agenda are expected to include counter-terrorism cooperation, cybersecurity, regional conflicts, and the evolving security architecture in Asia and beyond.

Wang Yi’s visit also provides an opportunity for potential bilateral discussions with NSA Ajit Doval. The two senior officials previously met in New Delhi in August 2025 for the 24th meeting of Special Representatives, where both sides noted that peace and tranquillity had been maintained in the India-China border areas since their previous talks, according to the Times of India. The MEA had also stated that both countries view each other as development partners rather than rivals, emphasizing that differences should not escalate into disputes.

Analysis: Strategic Implications

Wang Yi’s attendance underscores China’s continued commitment to the BRICS framework as a platform for multilateral security cooperation, particularly as an alternative to Western-led security architectures. Both China and India are positioning themselves as leaders of the Global South through the BRICS platform, though their strategic interests sometimes diverge on specific issues.

The meeting carries particular significance as the first BRICS NSA gathering in the expanded format under India’s chairmanship, testing the group’s ability to coordinate security policies among a more diverse membership. As CGTN noted, the discussions will address a range of security challenges facing the bloc. The expanded membership brings in new perspectives from countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, potentially broadening the scope of security discussions.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has emphasized that a stable relationship between India and China is necessary for the growth and development of both countries, as well as for a multipolar world. Both countries have stressed viewing each other as development partners rather than rivals, with differences not escalating into disputes. The meeting in New Delhi provides a natural setting for informal dialogue on outstanding bilateral issues, including border management and economic cooperation.

What’s Next

The 16th BRICS NSA meeting will help shape the agenda and set the tone for the 18th BRICS Summit in September 2026. Observers will be watching for any joint statements or outcomes from the meeting, as well as potential bilateral engagements between Wang Yi and Indian officials on the sidelines. The meeting takes place against a backdrop of rising global security challenges, making the discussions particularly significant for the future direction of the expanded BRICS grouping. The outcomes of this meeting will likely influence the thematic priorities and the level of ambition for the September summit.