New delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin has landed in the Indian capital, marking the beginning of an 11-member BRICS summit that is set to concentrate on the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, alongside addressing economic challenges.
According to France24.com, Putin, along with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, is scheduled to engage in discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also anticipated to meet Modi during the sidelines of the two-day summit, as reported by Indian diplomatic sources. Putin's arrival at Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi was covered by Russia's Ria Novosti news agency, which captured India's Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh welcoming him.
This visit marks Xi Jinping's first trip to India since 2019, signaling a cautious improvement in relations between the two neighboring countries, which have historically been strained due to a deadly military clash along their contested Himalayan border six years ago. Ties have been gradually warming, as evidenced by the resumption of flights, visas, and high-level engagements. However, significant challenges remain, including a disputed frontier, an increasing trade deficit, and strategic competition.
In New Delhi, streets are adorned with posters displaying a smiling Modi welcoming the visiting leaders, while security forces have been heavily deployed across the capital, leading to traffic restrictions in central areas. The local police have urged citizens to remain patient and cooperative amidst these measures.
BRICS, established in 2009 as a platform for major emerging economies desiring increased influence in international institutions typically led by Western powers, has since expanded. It now includes Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates-nations with divergent stances on the conflict initiated by the United States and Israel in February.
Harsh V. Pant of India's Observer Research Foundation commented, "The Gulf conflict is going to be the central fault line this time during the BRICS summit." Pant also highlighted that what was previously seen as a success-the expansion of BRICS-now appears to be a constraint.
This summit also marks Pezeshkian's inaugural visit to India as Iran's president, placing the Middle East conflict prominently on the agenda. Shilan Shah of Capital Economics remarked, "The war in Iran will provide a stern test of the (expanded) group's cohesion," especially considering the BRICS foreign ministers' failure to reach a consensus on a joint statement during their meeting in New Delhi in May.
India maintains a delicate diplomatic balance, fostering cordial relations with both Iran and Israel while being careful with its ties to Washington. The country has managed the energy crisis brought on by the Iran conflict partly by turning to Russia, a key strategic partner and a controversial fuel supplier amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Putin's last visit to India occurred in December 2025, although he and Modi also met earlier this month in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Kyiv, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude to India for its commitment to ending the "unjust war."