Russian President Vladimir Putin touched down at Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi on Friday, kicking off what promises to be one of the most consequential BRICS summits in years. India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh greeted him on the tarmac as heavy security blanketed the Indian capital.
The two-day gathering brings together leaders from 11 member nations, with wars in Ukraine and the Middle East dominating the agenda. Putin is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as is Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Chinese President Xi Jinping will also attend, marking his first visit to India since 2019.
Xi’s presence carries special weight. The visit represents the most significant thaw between India and China since their deadly 2020 military clash along the disputed Himalayan border. Flights, visas and high-level contacts have gradually resumed between the nuclear-armed rivals, though deep mistrust over territorial disputes and trade imbalances persists.
Can the expanded BRICS bloc find common ground on the Middle East conflict? That’s the question ing over Delhi. The forum’s growth from its original five members has complicated efforts to reach consensus on thorny geopolitical issues, particularly regarding ongoing wars that directly involve member states.
Posters of a beaming Modi lined Delhi’s streets on Friday as traffic restrictions and heightened security measures took effect across central districts.
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