Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in New Delhi for a two-day BRICS summit starting Friday. The gathering brings together leaders including Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping to discuss global energy security and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Xi Jinping’s first Indian visit since 2019
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to hold sideline talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the summit. This visit marks the first time Xi Jinping has traveled to India since 2019, signaling a cautious diplomatic warming between two Asian powers that have remained rivals for decades. The relationship between China and India has been strained by a long-standing dispute over their shared Himalayan border, which saw a deadly military clash in Kashmir .
The restoration of high-level contacts, visas, and flights in recent months suggests that both New Delhi and Beijing are seeking to lower tensions. As reported, this summit serves as a critical test to determine if the current diplomatic thaw can be sustained or if historical territorial frictions will again stall progress.
The 11-member bloc and the May statement failure
The BRICS organization, established in 2009 to give emerging economies more influence against Western-dominated institutions, has grown into an 11-member bloc. This expansion now includes nations such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. However, this growth has complicated the group's ability to reach a consensus, as members hold vastly different views on the current conflicts in the Middle East and Europe.
According to the report, the internal friction was evident as recently as May, when foreign ministers meeting in New Delhi failed to agree on a joint statement. This inability to align on a single narrative highlights the strategic challenges facing the expanded group, as it attempts to project a unified front while its members pursue competing political interests.
India's strategic reliance on Russian fuel
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to manage a complex partnership with Russian President Vladimir Putin, primarily driven by energy needs . india has significantly increased its dependence on Russia for fuel to combat a domestic energy crisis, making Moscow one of India's most vital strategic partners despite the international controversy surrounding the war in Ukraine.
The role of Russia as a primary energy supplier has grown more critical as the conflict in Ukraine continues to disrupt global fuel markets. While Vladimir Putin has maintained frequent contact with Narendra Modi—including a meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, earlier this month—India remains focused on preserving its diplomatic flexibility to avoid being forced into a direct confrontation between major global powers.
Masoud Pezeshkian’s debut visit to New Delhi
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is making his first trip to India since assuming the presidency, ensuring that the Middle East conflict remains a central pillar of the summit's agenda. The presence of Masoud Pezeshkian underscores the geopolitical weight of the expanded BRICS membership and the group's intent to address Eurasian security.
Despite the high-level attendance, several critical points remain unresolved. It is still unknown exactly which specific clauses caused the foreign ministers to fail their joint statement in May, and the report does not clarify if Saudi Arabia and Iran have reached a private understanding regarding the Middle East conflict prior to this summit. Whether the 11-member group can move past these disagreements remains the primary uncertainty of the New Delhi meetings.
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