BRICS Meeting in India: 5 Powerful Talks to Watch Closely!

BRICS Meeting in India: Putin, Xi and Pezeshkian Arrive

The BRICS meeting in India has begun with major global leaders arriving in New Delhi for the two-day summit, with the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, economic challenges and shifting geopolitical alliances expected to dominate discussions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi on Friday ahead of the summit. He was received by India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, according to footage broadcast by Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency.

The summit brings together leaders from the expanded BRICS grouping at a time of significant international tensions. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold bilateral discussions with Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, while Chinese President Xi Jinping is also scheduled to meet Modi on the sidelines of the summit.

Putin-Modi Meeting to Focus on Defence, Energy and Technology

One of the key highlights of the BRICS meeting in India will be the Putin Modi meeting, where the two leaders are expected to discuss strengthening cooperation in defence, energy and technology.

India and Russia have maintained close strategic relations for decades, with defence and energy remaining important areas of cooperation.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov earlier said that the two countries were exploring possible upgrades to the BrahMos missile system. Russia has also reaffirmed its commitment to completing the remaining deliveries of the S-400 air defence systems.

The two sides are also expected to discuss the possible supply of Russian Su-57 fighter jets to India.

Another major area of discussion will be civil nuclear cooperation. According to the information released ahead of the visit, Russia and India are expected to negotiate India’s plans for establishing additional civil nuclear reactors.

Putin and Modi most recently met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek. During that meeting, Modi urged the Russian president to move from an “endless war towards the end of war” in reference to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Middle East War to Test BRICS Unity

The Middle East conflict is expected to be one of the biggest challenges for the expanded BRICS group.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is visiting India for the first time since becoming president. His visit is expected to place the conflict involving Iran firmly on the summit agenda.

BRICS has expanded beyond its original five members—Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The grouping now also includes countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

However, these countries have different positions and interests regarding the Middle East conflict.

Analysts believe this could make it difficult for BRICS members to reach a common position on major geopolitical issues.

Harsh V Pant of India’s Observer Research Foundation described the Gulf conflict as a major fault line for the summit. He also noted that the expansion that was previously viewed as an achievement could now become a constraint for the grouping.

The inability of BRICS foreign ministers to agree on a joint statement during their meeting in New Delhi in May has already highlighted the differences within the expanded organisation.

Xi Jinping to Meet Narendra Modi

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit is another major development surrounding the BRICS meeting in India.

Xi is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday evening. The meeting will be closely watched because it represents another step in the gradual improvement of India-China relations following years of tension.

The two leaders are expected to discuss trade and investment, while the broader situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is also likely to feature in their talks.

Xi’s visit marks his first trip to India since 2019.

Relations between India and China have shown signs of improvement in recent months, with flights, visas and high-level contacts gradually being restored. However, significant challenges remain, including the disputed Himalayan border, India’s trade deficit with China and wider strategic competition between the two Asian powers.

Ukraine War Remains Important Issue

The Russia-Ukraine war will also remain an important issue during the summit.

India has maintained a diplomatic position that emphasises dialogue and peaceful resolution while continuing its strategic relationship with Russia.

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar recently visited Kyiv, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed appreciation for India’s position on ending the war.

At the same time, Russia remains one of India’s most important strategic partners and a major source of energy supplies.

The war has created significant geopolitical and economic challenges for India, particularly in the energy sector. New Delhi has attempted to balance its relationships with Moscow, Washington and European countries while protecting its own economic and strategic interests.

Heavy Security Across New Delhi

The arrival of major international leaders has triggered extensive security arrangements across New Delhi.

Posters featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi have appeared across parts of the capital as India prepares to host the summit. Security forces have been deployed heavily, while traffic restrictions are being implemented in several central areas.

Delhi Police has urged residents and commuters to remain patient and cooperate with security arrangements during the summit.

The presence of multiple world leaders is expected to create additional movement restrictions in important parts of the capital.

Five Major Issues to Watch at the BRICS Summit

The BRICS meeting in India is expected to focus on several major issues:

1. Russia-Ukraine war – India’s diplomatic position and the search for a peaceful resolution will remain important.
2. Middle East conflict – Iran’s participation could bring the ongoing regional crisis to the centre of discussions.
3. India-Russia defence cooperation – BrahMos, S-400, Su-57 fighter jets and other defence issues are expected to feature in talks.
4. India-China relations – Modi and Xi are expected to discuss trade, investment and the LAC situation.
5. Energy and economic cooperation – BRICS members are likely to discuss economic challenges and cooperation amid global uncertainty.

What the BRICS Meeting in India Means for Global Politics

The summit comes at a time when global politics is undergoing major changes. The expanded BRICS group brings together countries with different political systems, economic interests and foreign-policy priorities.

For India, the summit provides an opportunity to strengthen its role as a major emerging power while maintaining relationships with countries on different sides of global conflicts.

The meetings between Modi and Putin, Modi and Xi Jinping, and Modi and Pezeshkian will therefore attract significant international attention.

The outcome of the summit could also indicate how effectively the expanded BRICS grouping can work together despite differences among its members.

With wars, trade disputes, energy concerns and strategic rivalries dominating the international environment, the BRICS meeting in India is set to become an important test of the grouping’s ability to find common ground on some of the world’s biggest challenges.