New delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin touched down in the Indian capital ahead of the 11-member BRICS summit, which is anticipated to be heavily influenced by the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as the economic hurdles faced by member countries.
According to France24.com, Putin, along with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, is set to engage in discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to meet Modi during the two-day event. Putin's arrival at Palam Air Force Station was marked by a warm reception from India's Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, as reported by Russia's Ria Novosti news agency.
This visit marks Xi's first trip to India since 2019, signaling a cautious warming of relations between the two neighboring nations, following a period of tension after a military clash along their disputed Himalayan border. Despite the gradual restoration of flights, visas, and high-level interactions, underlying issues such as the contested frontier, trade imbalances, and strategic rivalry continue to challenge their relationship.
The Indian capital is adorned with posters featuring a smiling Modi, welcoming the summit leaders amidst heightened security measures and imposed traffic restrictions in central areas. The Delhi police have called for public patience and cooperation.
BRICS, established in 2009 as a platform for major emerging economies aiming for greater influence in global institutions dominated by Western powers, has expanded to include Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. These new members have differing views on the conflict initiated by the United States and Israel in February, creating a potential point of contention during the summit.
Harsh V. Pant of India's Observer Research Foundation noted, "The Gulf conflict is going to be the central fault line this time during the BRICS summit." He added that what was once seen as a triumph-BRICS' expansion-now poses a significant constraint on the group's unity.
Pezeshkian's debut visit to India as the Iranian president brings focus to the Middle East conflict during the summit. Shilan Shah of Capital Economics emphasized, "The war in Iran will provide a stern test of the (expanded) group's cohesion," especially given the BRICS foreign ministers' inability to agree on a joint statement in their May meeting in New Delhi.
Notwithstanding its diplomatic balancing act, India maintains favorable relations with both Iran and Israel while cautiously managing its ties with the United States. India's approach to the energy crisis, exacerbated by the Iran conflict, involves collaboration with Russia, a key strategic partner and significant fuel supplier amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
Putin's previous visit to India was in December 2025, though he recently met Modi in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar's recent visit to Kyiv saw Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressing gratitude to India for its commitment to resolving the conflict with Russia.