Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to be a virtual participant at a summit of BRICS nations in South Africa later this month rather than attend in person.
The foreign ministry declined to comment, while the prime minister’s office did not respond when asked if Modi would be travelling to Johannesburg for the August 22-24 summit of leaders from a bloc that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already decided that he will be a virtual participant.
China and Russia are keen to discuss expansion of BRICS at the summit, while India has reservations about that idea.
