President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has arrived in New Delhi, India, for the 18th BRICS Summit, where the Philippines is set to bring the voice of Southeast Asia to one of the world’s most closely watched gatherings of emerging economies.
Marcos departed Manila on Friday evening, September 11, and is attending the September 12–13 summit in his capacity as ASEAN chair for 2026. He was invited by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in the summit’s outreach activities.
The trip comes as BRICS convenes against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty, geopolitical conflicts, trade tensions and growing competition over technology, energy and supply chains.
Marcos to push ASEAN priorities
Rather than seeking alignment with any single major power, Marcos is expected to use the summit to promote ASEAN’s priorities on peace and security, inclusive economic growth, disaster resilience, food and energy security, sustainable development and a rules-based international order.
In his departure statement, Marcos said ASEAN must work with its partners to address challenges affecting developing and emerging economies.
He is also expected to call for stronger disaster preparedness, responsible use of emerging technologies, climate action and the peaceful settlement of disputes under international law.
The Philippine delegation’s participation is particularly significant because BRICS has expanded its reach well beyond its original members, bringing together major emerging economies from Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
India talks could deliver bigger economic opportunities
Marcos’ India visit is not limited to the BRICS Summit.
He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review progress on the Philippines-India Strategic Partnership and the Five-Year Plan of Action covering 2025 to 2029.
The agenda is expected to include defense and maritime cooperation, trade and investment, a proposed Preferential Trade Agreement, health and pharmaceuticals, digital cooperation, tourism, direct air connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.
Marcos is also expected to engage Indian business leaders as Manila seeks to convert previously announced investment commitments into concrete projects.
Indian companies had pledged approximately US$5.8 billion in investments during Marcos’ previous visit to India, covering sectors including technology, health, energy and infrastructure.
The Philippine government is now looking to attract additional Indian investments in infrastructure, digitalization, information technology, pharmaceuticals, transport and logistics.
Why the BRICS summit matters
The summit comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the global economy.
BRICS leaders are meeting as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East continue to affect energy markets, trade and international diplomacy. The expanded bloc is also attempting to strengthen cooperation among countries with very different political and economic interests.
International coverage of the summit has highlighted tensions within the enlarged group, including differences over the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and the strategic rivalry between major powers.
India is hosting the summit under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” with discussions expected to focus on economic resilience, digital public infrastructure, innovation, climate action and broader international cooperation.
The summit is also drawing major world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
India’s hosting of the meeting comes as New Delhi seeks to balance relationships with competing global powers while maintaining its own strategic interests.
A strategic moment for the Philippines
For Marcos, the India trip offers two tracks at once: representing ASEAN at a major multilateral forum while advancing the Philippines’ own economic and strategic interests with India.
The President has emphasized that ASEAN should maintain strategic autonomy while engaging major emerging economies through established multilateral frameworks.
His meetings in New Delhi could therefore have consequences beyond the two-day summit, particularly if the Philippines succeeds in attracting new investments, expanding trade and strengthening cooperation in defense, technology, health, infrastructure and connectivity.
For Manila, the bigger test will be turning diplomatic conversations into concrete economic and strategic gains.
And with global alliances increasingly shifting, Marcos’ presence in New Delhi gives the Philippines an opportunity to make its position heard — not as a BRICS member, but as the country currently carrying the responsibility of representing the ASEAN chairmanship on a much bigger stage.
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