Putin Arrives in India for BRICS Summit Amid Wars

Russian President Vladimir Putin Arrives in India ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit, which India will host on September 12–13. His visit comes at a time when the expanded BRICS grouping faces major geopolitical challenges, particularly the conflicts involving Iran and Ukraine.

Putin is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with India-Russia cooperation expected to feature prominently. Trade, investment, energy, defence, technology and other strategic areas are likely to be discussed.

The summit is also expected to bring together Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, among other leaders. The ongoing Middle East crisis presents a difficult challenge for BRICS because member countries have differing positions and interests in the region.

For India, the summit provides an opportunity to strengthen its engagement with Russia and China while maintaining its broader international partnerships. The gathering could also test whether the enlarged BRICS bloc can find common ground on major global conflicts and economic issues.