Modi may attend BRICS summit in Brazil next month

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to travel to Rio De Janeiro next month to attend the BRICS summit, according to informed sources here.

- S VENKAT NARAYAN

The gathering will be closely watched by the US Trump administration that sees it as a counterweight to the G-7 group of developed nations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to attend, as well as the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Egypt, and Indonesia.

The BRICS-11 — including original members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and new entrants Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia - now represent half the world's population and 39% of global GDP. The G-7, on the other hand—comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the European Union—accounts for about 30% of the world's GDP.

Modi's attendance at the event comes soon after the four-day Pakistan, and India's "new normal" on fighting terror.

Any joint statement on crossborder terrorism by the largely economic grouping will be significant for India, officials said.