Putin Arrives in India as BRICS Summit Focuses on Wars and Global Economy
New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India on Friday for talks ahead of the annual BRICS summit, which is expected to focus heavily on ongoing conflicts, global trade challenges and energy security.
The two-day summit is scheduled to begin on Saturday in New Delhi and will bring together leaders and senior officials from the expanded 11-member BRICS group. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are also expected to attend.
Ukraine and Middle East Conflicts on Agenda
The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are expected to feature prominently during discussions, alongside international trade tensions and developments in global energy markets.
The summit comes at a challenging time for the expanded BRICS bloc, whose members have differing positions on several major international issues.
According to analysts, the conflict involving Iran and the wider Gulf region could become one of the most difficult issues for the group to address.
Xi Jinping Set to Visit India
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected arrival will be closely watched, as it will mark his first visit to India since 2019.
Relations between the two Asian powers have gradually improved following a deadly military confrontation along their disputed Himalayan border in 2020. Air connections, visa arrangements and high-level diplomatic contacts have since begun to recover.
Despite these developments, significant differences remain between Beijing and New Delhi, including their unresolved border dispute, trade imbalance and broader strategic competition.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet Putin during his visit. Russia remains an important strategic partner for India, particularly in the energy and defence sectors.
India Balances Relations with Major Powers
India has maintained diplomatic relations with both Russia and Iran while also developing close ties with the United States and other Western countries.
The global energy situation has further highlighted India’s relationship with Russia. New Delhi has increased its reliance on Russian energy supplies as it manages the impact of international disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is also expected to meet Prime Minister Modi during the summit. His visit will give India and Iran an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations as well as regional developments.
BRICS Faces Internal Differences
BRICS was established in 2009 to give major emerging economies a stronger collective voice in global institutions. The group has expanded significantly in recent years and now includes countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
However, the broader membership has also introduced different geopolitical interests into the group.
Analysts believe the Middle East conflict could test the ability of BRICS members to reach common positions on international issues. Earlier this year, the group’s foreign ministers reportedly failed to agree on a joint statement during their meeting in New Delhi.
The summit will also be attended by other senior leaders, including UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Focus on Diplomacy and Global Stability
India is expected to use the summit to strengthen its diplomatic engagement with major powers while maintaining its strategic relationships with Russia, Iran, the United States and other countries.
The visit comes shortly after Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar travelled to Kyiv, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed India’s stated commitment to efforts aimed at ending the war.
With conflicts, energy security, trade and relations between major economies all on the agenda, the BRICS summit is expected to provide an important platform for discussions on global economic and geopolitical challenges.
