Putin and Xi Arrive in India for BRICS Summit

World leaders have gathered in New Delhi for a two-day BRICS summit focused on economic challenges and international conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in the Indian capital on Friday to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The high-level meeting comes as the expanded group faces internal friction over global geopolitical crises.

Middle East Conflict Tests Group Cohesion

The 11-member alliance now includes Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, three nations holding contrasting stances on the war launched in February by the United States and Israel. Iranian President Pezeshkian is making his first official trip to India as president, bringing Middle East security issues directly to the summit agenda.

Analyst Harsh V. Pant of India’s Observer Research Foundation stated that Middle East tensions will serve as “the central fault line this time during the BRICS summit.” Pant added that recent membership growth “today looks like a big constraint on BRICS.” Capital Economics analyst Shilan Shah similarly noted that “The war in Iran will provide a stern test of the (expanded) group’s cohesion,” pointing to the failure of BRICS foreign ministers to produce a joint statement during their May meeting in New Delhi.

Xi Jinping Makes First India Visit Since 2019

Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to hold bilateral talks during the event, marking his first visit to India since 2019. The arrival reflects a step toward diplomatic easing between the two nations following a fatal military border clash six years ago. Flights, visa processing, and high-level contacts have gradually resumed, though long-standing distrust persists due to contested Himalayan boundary lines, a growing trade imbalance, and strategic competition.

Putin arrived at New Delhi’s Palam Air Force Station on Friday morning, where he was received by India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, according to footage broadcast by Russian news agency Ria Novosti. Putin last traveled to India in December 2025, though he met Modi earlier this month in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

India Balances Regional Alliances and Energy Demands

India maintains diplomatic relations with Iran, Israel, and the United States while relying on Russia to meet its domestic energy needs amid disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. Russian fuel imports have served as a primary energy source for India during the ongoing war in Ukraine.

At the same time, Indian officials have kept channels open with Kyiv. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Kyiv earlier this month, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was “grateful to India for its commitment to ending this unjust war.”

Capital Enforces High Security

In preparation for the summit, local authorities deployed heavy security details across New Delhi. Banners featuring Prime Minister Modi were posted along major roadways, while police restricted traffic in central districts to accommodate visiting delegations.

Background

Founded in 2009, BRICS originated as a coalition of major emerging economies intended to counter the diplomatic and economic dominance of Western-led global institutions. The group originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa before expanding its membership to include several Middle Eastern and African nations.