The gathering brings together leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, alongside representatives from nations such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. Established in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China before expanding to include South Africa and subsequent members, the bloc faces an agenda addressing the Middle East situation, the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, global trade turbulence, energy security, climate policy, and efforts to reduce reliance on the United States dollar.

Iranian President Pezeshkian described the current geopolitical climate as a "critical and dangerous stage" driven by "military aggression by the United States and Israel," positioning cooperation within the bloc as a "central objective." Addressing concerns over the coalition's purpose, Russian President Putin insisted the group is "not directed against any other countries."

Bilateral friction between India and China persists as both sides retain heavy military deployments along their roughly 3,500-kilometre, or 2,175-mile, high-altitude border following a deadly 2020 clash. Harsh V. Pant described these ongoing territorial frictions as a "central fault line" and a "big constraint" on broader regional cooperation.

Despite the military standoff, diplomatic channels remain active. Beijing stated that it is "ready to work with India... by strengthening communication, enhancing cooperation, and properly handling differences." Pradeep Taneja suggested that ongoing diplomatic efforts could yield an "early and substantial harvest" as Xi and Modi prepare to hold face-to-face talks during the summit.