Vladimir Putin and fellow world leaders have gathered in New Delhi for an 11-member BRICS summit, where intense geopolitical friction over the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East threatens to test the bloc’s unity. The high-stakes, two-day meeting also marks Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s first visit to India since 2019, representing a delicate thaw between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
As security forces blanket New Delhi and posters of a beaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi line the capital’s streets, the true test of the summit lies behind closed doors. Originally founded in 2009 as a forum for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in institutions dominated by western powers, BRICS has expanded to include Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Today, that expansion looks less like a diplomatic triumph and more like a constraint.
The Middle East Fault Line and Tehran’s Debut
The widening conflict in the Middle East has displaced economic policy at the top of the agenda. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is attending his first visit to India as president, bringing the fallout from the military actions launched by the US and Israel in February directly to the negotiating table. According to Harsh V Pant of India’s Observer Research Foundation, “The Gulf conflict is going to be the central fault line this time during the Brics summit.”
That friction is hardly theoretical. Back in May, BRICS foreign ministers met in Delhi and failed to agree on a joint statement. Shilan Shah of Capital Economics noted that “The war in Iran will provide a stern test of the [expanded] group’s cohesion.” India finds itself walking a diplomatic tightrope, maintaining cordial ties with both Iran and Washington while managing the energy crisis caused by the Iran war by turning to Russia.
A Cautious Himalayan Thaw Between Delhi and Beijing
Beyond the Middle East, the summit serves as the backdrop for a bilateral milestone: Xi Jinping’s return to India. Six years after a deadly military clash along their disputed Himalayan border, the two Asian giants are slowly restoring flights, visas, and high-level contacts.
Yet, deep mistrust endures. A contested frontier, a widening trade deficit, and strategic rivalry continue to strain ties between Beijing and New Delhi. While Modi, Putin, and Pezeshkian hold targeted talks, Xi’s presence signals a pragmatic realization that even rivals must manage their friction as global realignments accelerate.
Navigating Western Sanctions and the Ukraine Shadow
Meanwhile, the grinding war in Ukraine continues to loom large over Moscow’s delegations. Putin arrived at Palam Air Force Station on Friday, greeted by India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, according to footage from Russia’s Ria Novosti news agency.
India’s balancing act remains diplomacy. Just weeks prior, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Kyiv, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to express gratitude for India’s commitment to ending the conflict. Yet, New Delhi continues to rely on Russian energy supplies, keeping Putin close as Western capitals watch nervously.
Can an expanded BRICS find common ground when its members are sitting on opposing sides of active global conflicts? As the delegates settle into closed-door sessions in New Delhi, the answer will define the trajectory of the bloc for years to come. What do you think—can emerging economies maintain a unified economic front while geopolitical divides fracture their alliances? Let us know your thoughts below.
