The highly anticipated 18th summit of the developing economies bloc BRICS begins today, Saturday (September 12), in India's capital, New Delhi, amid comprehensive security measures and final preparations.

To ensure the safety of global leaders, surveillance has been stepped up across key areas and VVIP routes in New Delhi.

Law enforcement agencies have established a high-tech dedicated control room to continuously monitor the movements of leaders' motorcades and the overall situation in the capital.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi late Friday night (September 11) to attend the summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and the heads of state of South Africa and Indonesia are also participating in person.

This year's BRICS summit is viewed as particularly significant against the backdrop of intense military conflict in the Middle East and the global energy crisis.

Discussions are expected to focus on strengthening economic cooperation among member states and increasing the use of alternative currencies in international trade.

In addition, the ongoing Middle East crisis, regional security, and the shifting geopolitical landscape are set to be prominent items on the agenda for this year's summit.

With the growing influence of BRICS in the global economy and international politics, the international community is paying close attention to this year's gathering.