Marcos to represent ASEAN at BRICS Summit in India

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has departed Manila to participate in the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India. His travel from September 12 to 13, 2026, is at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and he will represent the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) community in his capacity as chair of the regional organization for 2026. In his departure message, Marcos stated that he would carry ASEAN's voice to the summit and amplify the community's perspectives on contemporary issues, guided by the priorities of the Philippines' chairship: peace and security anchors, prosperity corridors, and people empowerment. He intends to engage with the BRICS community, which includes four fellow ASEAN member-states, on advancing the quest for peace, inclusive growth, regional resilience, sustainable development, food and energy security, and a rules-based international order. During the summit's opening session on September 13, Marcos plans to present ASEAN's priorities to BRICS members. He will highlight ASEAN’s commitment to deepening engagement with its partners through established frameworks and offer views on how partners can address challenges, particularly those affecting developing countries and emerging economies. The President intends to call for fairer global governance, stronger disaster preparedness, the responsible use of new technologies, climate action, and the peaceful settlement of disputes under international law. He emphasized sharing lessons from ASEAN’s track record and long-standing commitment to open and inclusive dialogue while preserving strategic autonomy. While in India, Marcos is also scheduled for a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi. Discussions will focus on tracking progress in key areas of the Philippines-India Strategic Partnership and reviewing the implementation of the Five-Year Plan of Action for 2025-2029. Topics will include defense and maritime cooperation, trade and investment, the proposed Preferential Trade Agreement, health and pharmaceuticals, digital cooperation, tourism, direct air connectivity, and people-to-people ties. Marcos will also renew the invitation for Modi to visit the Philippines for the ASEAN-India Summit and the East Asia Summit in November. He further plans to engage with Indian companies and players. The President expressed determination to translate potential into action and action into gains, aiming for greater economic security for the Filipino people, strengthened ASEAN external partnerships, and broader practical cooperation among diverse players to support peace, security, and shared prosperity. Information Source: GMA News Philippines