Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Friday to participate in the upcoming BRICS summit, a gathering of 11 emerging markets and developing countries. Upon landing in the Indian capital, the Russian leader was greeted by the Indian Minister of External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, accompanied by a welcome party.
The two-day conference is expected to center on pressing global concerns, specifically the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as discussions regarding oil markets and international trade. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also arrived in India on Friday as the region navigates the current conflict in the Middle East. Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to attend the sessions from Saturday to Sunday, marking his first visit to India since 2019.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed optimism regarding the event, stating on social media that he expects the conference to feature positive and meaningful discussions aimed at global welfare. Modi is scheduled to hold private talks with Putin on Friday as part of his efforts to strengthen the strategic relationship between New Delhi and Moscow.
Harsh V. Pant of India's Observer Research Foundation noted that the Gulf conflict is likely to serve as the central fault line during this year's summit. Pant further remarked that the rapid expansion of the group, which was previously viewed as a major achievement, now appears to pose a significant constraint on the organization.
The BRICS group includes Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. Originally established in 2009 in Yekaterinburg, Russia, the bloc has since expanded to include 10 partner nations: Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
