Putin Arrives In India As BRICS Summit Faces Major Geopolitical Tests

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in New Delhi for a two-day BRICS summit expected to focus on the wars in Iran and Ukraine, economic challenges and the future of the expanded bloc. Putin is set to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to hold talks with Modi. The summit could test BRICS unity as its members have differing positions on major geopolitical conflicts, while India seeks to balance its relationships with Russia, China, Iran, Israel and the United States.

PUTIN ARRIVES IN NEW DELHI FOR BRICS SUMMIT

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in New Delhi ahead of a two-day BRICS summit expected to focus heavily on the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as the economic challenges facing emerging economies.
Putin arrived at Palam Air Force Station on Friday, where he was welcomed by India's Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh.
Indian authorities have imposed tight security measures across the capital, with large numbers of security personnel deployed and traffic restrictions introduced in several central areas.
The summit brings together leaders from the expanded BRICS group at a time when divisions over international conflicts are testing the organisation's ability to speak with one voice.

BRICS EXPANDS BEYOND ITS ORIGINAL MEMBERS

BRICS was originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining later.
The grouping was established as a forum for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in global institutions traditionally dominated by Western powers.
It has since expanded to include countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, bringing together states with very different foreign-policy positions.
The expanded membership has increased BRICS' economic and geopolitical weight, but it has also made agreement on sensitive international issues more difficult.

IRAN WAR COULD TEST BRICS UNITY

The conflict involving Iran is expected to be one of the most difficult issues confronting the summit.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is due to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking his first visit to India as Iranian president.
The conflict has created particularly complicated circumstances for BRICS because the expanded group includes Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, whose interests and positions in the Middle East do not always align.
Analysts say the war could expose the limits of BRICS' ability to develop a common position on major security crises.
The group's foreign ministers failed to reach agreement on a joint statement during their meeting in New Delhi in May, highlighting the divisions that could resurface during the leaders' summit.

INDIA FACES A DELICATE DIPLOMATIC BALANCE

India is attempting to maintain relationships with several competing powers at the same time.
New Delhi has maintained relations with both Iran and Israel, while also seeking strong ties with the United States.
The war involving Iran has created additional economic pressure, particularly because disruptions to energy supplies can affect fuel prices and economic growth.
India has responded partly by strengthening its energy relationship with Russia, which has become an increasingly important supplier of discounted fuel to the country despite international criticism over Russia's war in Ukraine.
This balancing act gives Modi an important diplomatic role at the summit.

PUTIN AND MODI TO DISCUSS STRATEGIC TIES

Putin is expected to hold talks with Modi during the summit.
India and Russia have maintained close strategic relations for decades, particularly in defence, energy and other areas of economic cooperation.
Despite pressure from Western countries over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, India has continued buying significant quantities of Russian oil.
The relationship has also become increasingly important for India as it attempts to protect itself from energy-price shocks.
Putin last visited India in December 2025 and also met Modi earlier this month in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

UKRAINE REMAINS ANOTHER MAJOR ISSUE

Russia's war in Ukraine is also expected to feature prominently at the summit.
India has avoided directly condemning Moscow over the war and has repeatedly called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict.
At the same time, India has maintained contact with Ukraine.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Kyiv earlier this month, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed appreciation for India's stated commitment to ending the war.
New Delhi's position reflects its broader effort to maintain relations with both Russia and Western countries without becoming directly aligned with either side.

XI JINPING'S INDIA VISIT MARKS A THAW

Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to meet Modi on the sidelines of the summit.
It will be Xi's first visit to India since 2019 and represents an important step in the cautious improvement of relations between the two Asian powers.
India and China have been gradually rebuilding ties after a deadly military confrontation along their disputed Himalayan border six years ago.
Flights, visas and high-level diplomatic contacts have increasingly resumed.
However, the relationship remains fragile.

BORDER DISPUTE STILL HANGS OVER INDIA-CHINA TIES

Despite the recent improvement, India and China continue to have significant disagreements.
Their unresolved Himalayan border dispute remains a major source of mistrust between the two nuclear-armed countries.
Economic relations are also complicated by India's growing trade deficit with China and competition for strategic influence across Asia.
The two countries therefore have an interest in stabilising their relationship, but neither has completely overcome the strategic rivalry that has developed over decades.

EXPANDED BRICS FACES INTERNAL CONTRADICTIONS

The BRICS expansion has transformed the organisation into a much larger and more diverse grouping.
However, the differences between its members make consensus more difficult.
Countries such as Russia, China and Iran have often challenged aspects of the US-led international order, while India, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have maintained important economic and security relationships with Washington.
This means BRICS can cooperate on issues such as trade, development and reducing dependence on Western financial institutions while remaining deeply divided over wars and geopolitical disputes.

ECONOMIC CHALLENGES ALSO ON THE AGENDA

Beyond the conflicts, BRICS leaders are expected to discuss economic issues affecting developing and emerging economies.
High energy prices, global trade tensions, currency pressures and access to investment remain important concerns.
For many BRICS members, reducing excessive dependence on Western markets and financial systems is a long-term objective.
However, the different economic structures and priorities of member countries make deeper integration challenging.

MODI FACES A MAJOR DIPLOMATIC TEST

For Modi, hosting the summit offers India an opportunity to demonstrate its growing influence on the global stage.
New Delhi wants to strengthen cooperation with Russia and China while maintaining its strategic partnership with the United States and relationships across the Middle East.
That balancing act is becoming increasingly difficult as international tensions deepen.
The BRICS summit therefore provides India with an opportunity to promote dialogue, but it also exposes the competing interests that make agreement among the expanded group increasingly complicated.

A SUMMIT UNDER THE SHADOW OF WAR

Putin's arrival in New Delhi comes at a time when the international system is facing several simultaneous crises.
The Iran conflict, Russia's war in Ukraine, energy insecurity and tensions between major powers have all placed pressure on emerging economies.
Whether BRICS can present a united position on these issues will be closely watched.
For India, the summit is not simply a diplomatic gathering. It is also a test of whether New Delhi can use its relationships with Russia, China, Iran, the United States and other major powers to push for cooperation while protecting its own economic and security interests.