Putin arrives in India ahead of BRICS summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India on Friday, ahead of an 11-member BRICS summit set to focus on conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as global economic issues. Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian were scheduled to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while Chinese President Xi Jinping was also expected to meet him outside the two-day event, according to Indian diplomatic sources.

Putin touched down at Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi, where he was greeted by External Affairs Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh, as shown in footage broadcast by Russia's Ria Novosti news agency. This marks Xi's first visit to India since 2019, symbolizing a significant step in the cautious thaw between the two neighboring nations, which have not had formal diplomatic relations since a deadly clash along their disputed Himalayan border six years ago.

Ties between the nuclear-armed Asian giants have been improving recently, with increased flights, visa relaxations, and high-level contacts. However, significant challenges persist, including their contested frontier, a widening trade deficit, and strategic rivalry. In New Delhi, posters lined the streets to welcome leaders, while heavy security deployments and traffic restrictions were in place as Delhi police urged patience and cooperation from the public.

Formed in 2009, BRICS is an alliance of major emerging economies aiming for greater influence in institutions dominated by Western powers. Over time, the group has expanded to include Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, despite their differing stances on the US-led war in February. At the upcoming BRICS summit, the Gulf conflict is expected to be a key focus, according to Harsh V Pant of India's Observer Research Foundation.

Pezeshkian, a first-time visitor to India as Iranian president, will bring the Middle East conflict to the forefront.

The war in Iran will serve as a critical test of BRICS' unity, notes Shilan Shah of Capital Economics, citing the failure of BRICS foreign ministers to reach a joint statement during their May meeting in New Delhi. India has maintained friendly relations with Iran and Israel but navigates a delicate balance with the United States, which is also a strategic partner and a major fuel supplier amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.