BRICS converge in India as South Africa’s envoy joins high-stakes talks on global economic order

South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Ozzy Lamola arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, ahead of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, scheduled for May 14 and 15, marking the start of a high-level diplomatic gathering expected to shape discussions among emerging economies.

May 12, 2026 - 17:35

BRICS converge in India as South Africa’s envoy joins high-stakes talks on global economic order

South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Ozzy Lamola arrives in New Delhi ahead of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, where discussions will focus on global governance reforms, economic cooperation, and the bloc’s expanding geopolitical influence. [X, formerly Twitter/@RonaldLamola]

South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Ozzy Lamola arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, ahead of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, scheduled for May 14 and 15, marking the start of a high-level diplomatic gathering expected to shape discussions among emerging economies.

South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Ozzy Lamola has arrived in New Delhi for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for May 14–15.
The meeting is part of India’s 2026 BRICS chairship and marks a key diplomatic engagement for the expanded bloc.
Discussions are expected to focus on global governance reform amid rising geopolitical and economic tensions.
India is positioning itself as a central bridge between emerging economies and global powers within the alliance.

The meeting is being hosted under India’s 2026 BRICS chairship and is one of the first major ministerial engagements since the bloc’s 2025 deliberations on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

According to The Tribune India, India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, will lead proceedings as New Delhi seeks to consolidate its role within the expanded grouping.

The ministry also confirmed that visiting delegations, including Lamola, will “call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi” during their stay, underscoring the political significance attached to bilateral and multilateral engagements on the margins of the summit.

India’s chairship is anchored on the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” which officials say reflects a continued emphasis on inclusive development and reform of global institutions.

The approach builds on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier articulation of a “Humanity First” and “People-Centric” framework during the 2025 BRICS summit in Brazil.

The discussions come at a time of heightened global economic uncertainty following the US-Iran war, with ministers expected to consider reforms to global governance structures and broader efforts to rebalance international decision-making systems. India is positioning itself as a key advocate for a more equitable global order within the bloc.

The BRICS grouping now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, reflecting its expanded geopolitical footprint across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Analysts say the New Delhi meeting reflects the bloc’s ongoing efforts to coordinate positions on trade, development financing, and geopolitical risk, particularly as tensions among major powers continue to influence global markets.

For South Africa, Lamola’s participation underscores Pretoria’s efforts to maintain an active diplomatic profile within BRICS while balancing relations with Western partners and emerging economies.

India, meanwhile, is using its chairship to reinforce its standing as a bridge between the Global South and established powers, a role it has increasingly promoted in multilateral forums.

The outcome of the talks is expected to shape the agenda for the rest of India’s 2026 BRICS term, particularly on institutional reform and economic cooperation.

Further discussions are expected in the coming days, officials said in a statement.