BRICS Summit Tests India’s Balancing Act

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in India ahead of the 2026 BRICS summit, where leaders are expected to focus on war, global trade disruption, oil and the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. The 11-member summit begins Saturday, with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also expected to attend. Leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt are also set to participate. Xi’s visit will be his first to India since 2019 and represents the latest sign of a cautious improvement in relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Flights, visas and high-level contacts have gradually resumed after a deadly 2020 military clash along their disputed Himalayan border. However, mistrust, trade imbalances and strategic competition continue to complicate the relationship. India is also balancing several sensitive partnerships. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet Putin and Pezeshkian, while Russia remains one of New Delhi’s most important strategic partners and energy suppliers as the war in Ukraine continues. India maintains relations with both Iran and Israel and is also seeking to preserve ties with the United States. The conflict involving Iran and the Gulf is expected to be the summit’s central point of tension. Analysts say the expansion of BRICS, originally established to give emerging economies more influence in Western-dominated institutions, may now make consensus more difficult because members hold sharply different positions on the conflict. The group’s cohesion was already questioned after its foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement in May. India’s recent diplomatic engagement with Ukraine further highlights its effort to balance competing relationships while promoting an end to the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi ahead of a two-day BRICS summit expected to focus on the wars in Iran and Ukraine, as well as economic pressures facing emerging economies. Putin is scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, while Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to hold talks with Modi on the summit’s sidelines. The expanded BRICS grouping now includes Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, whose differing positions on the US-Israel war on Iran could make consensus difficult. Analysts quoted by AFP described the Gulf conflict as the summit’s central fault line and warned that the expansion of BRICS, previously viewed as a success, may now constrain the group’s ability to agree on common positions. The failure of BRICS foreign ministers to issue a joint statement in May was cited as evidence of growing internal divisions. Pezeshkian’s visit is his first to India as president and the first by an Iranian president in eight years, ensuring that the conflict in the Middle East will be prominent in discussions. India has maintained relations with both Iran and Israel while carefully managing ties with the United States. The war has also contributed to an energy crisis, prompting India to rely in part on Russia, despite international controversy surrounding Moscow’s fuel exports and its ongoing war in Ukraine. The summit also offers an opportunity for India and China to continue a cautious diplomatic thaw. Xi’s visit would be his first to India since 2019, following the restoration of some flights, visas and high-level contacts after a deadly clash along their disputed Himalayan border. However, mistrust remains over the border, trade imbalances and broader strategic rivalry.

The article examines how Donald Trump’s policies will shape the 2026 BRICS summit in Delhi, despite the United States not being a member of the group. Leaders from 11 BRICS countries, with Saudi Arabia attending as an invited member, are expected to discuss the war in Iran, global trade, tariffs, energy-market instability, sanctions and efforts to reduce dependence on the US dollar. However, the expanded grouping remains divided. Russia and Iran may favor a stronger criticism of Washington, while India is reportedly close to a trade deal with the US and will want to avoid provoking President Trump. China may also be cautious about using BRICS directly against Washington, and the UAE— which hosts US military bases and has faced Iranian attacks—has little incentive to support positions that benefit Tehran. These divisions make a strongly anti-American joint statement unlikely. BRICS has nevertheless gained considerable economic and geopolitical weight. It now represents nearly half of the world’s population, 40% of global GDP and 26% of international trade. Its main practical achievements include the New Development Bank, a $100bn financial reserve arrangement and efforts to facilitate cross-border payments in local currencies. The group is also expected to press for greater representation for developing nations in institutions such as the United Nations, IMF and World Bank. For India, the summit is an opportunity to strengthen its claim to leadership of the Global South while managing China’s influence and its stronger relationships in Africa and Latin America. Delhi’s key challenge will be securing a consensus statement, particularly after BRICS foreign ministers failed to agree on one in May because of disagreements over the Iran war. Bilateral meetings between Modi, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin will also be closely watched, with trade imbalances and the wars in Iran and Ukraine likely to feature prominently. A successful summit would strengthen BRICS’s credibility and represent a diplomatic achievement for India.

India is preparing to host the 18th BRICS summit in Delhi while attempting to preserve the group’s relevance without allowing it to become explicitly anti-Western. Its slogan, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” retains the BRICS acronym while emphasizing shared objectives that can appeal to both the five original members and the newer members—Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Analysts say India wants to keep the summit neutral and focused on practical cooperation. Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi presents BRICS as an important platform for the Global South, India’s strategic priorities increasingly include defense ties with the United States and trade relations with Western countries. New Delhi is therefore unlikely to support a confrontational or anti-Western agenda. Its non-aligned position may nevertheless enable it to act as a bridge among rival camps. The summit also offers important bilateral opportunities. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Modi are expected to meet, while Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping may hold talks amid continuing tensions in China-India relations. The attendance of major leaders is considered important after several heads of state skipped the previous summit in Brazil. Iran’s president is expected to attend, while the United Arab Emirates may send representatives; Saudi Arabia’s membership and participation remain ambiguous. Despite the summit’s geopolitical importance, experts expect limited concrete results. BRICS has considerable economic and demographic weight, but its expansion has increased internal contradictions, including disagreements among members and the growing proportion of autocratic governments. Likely areas of progress include trade, monetary cooperation, alternative currency-exchange mechanisms and agriculture-related food security. India is more likely to support cooperation on trade and World Trade Organization issues than aggressive reform of the United Nations. Overall, the article portrays BRICS as a potentially influential but internally divided group whose practical ambitions may be more achievable than major geopolitical initiatives.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Friday ahead of a two-day BRICS summit expected to address major geopolitical and economic issues. The 11-member grouping is likely to discuss the war in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East, oil markets and global trade, with the summit taking place amid heightened tensions involving Iran and the Gulf region. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend from Saturday to Sunday, marking his first visit to India since 2019. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also arrived, as the ongoing Iran war is expected to add further complexity to discussions among the expanded group of emerging markets and developing countries. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Putin on the sidelines of the summit. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, they reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation covering politics, trade, defence, energy, space, skills mobility and people-to-people ties. Modi also reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy should be used to resolve conflicts. Analyst Harsh V. Pant of India’s Observer Research Foundation said the Gulf conflict would probably be the summit’s main fault line. He argued that BRICS’s expansion, previously viewed as an achievement, may now limit the group’s ability to reach consensus because of the differing positions of its members. BRICS currently comprises Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. It also has 10 partner countries. The group held its first summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009 and has since expanded significantly, increasing its influence while also creating greater political and strategic divisions.

The article examines how Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attempting to balance India’s relationships with Russia, China and Iran during the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi. The gathering takes place amid escalating conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, heightened U.S. sanctions pressure on Iran, and continuing tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Modi are expected to discuss trade, connectivity, energy cooperation and regional developments. Tehran is also seeking membership in the BRICS New Development Bank as it works to strengthen economic links with Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates. The summit gives Iran an opportunity to engage several important trading partners collectively while facing growing pressure from Washington. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s attendance is also significant. His visit is described as his first to India in seven years and comes during a cautious improvement in relations following a deadly 2020 military clash along the disputed Himalayan border. A meeting between Modi and Xi is expected to address the normalization of bilateral relations and expanded economic cooperation. Russian President Vladimir Putin met Modi before the summit, marking his first visit to India since the Ukraine war began. Energy and defense are expected to dominate their discussions, with Moscow emphasizing record Indian imports of Russian energy and portraying India’s position on Ukraine as broadly compatible with Russia’s own stance. The article also highlights the importance of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to India’s Gulf strategy. The UAE’s suspension of commercial and financial dealings with Iran has already affected Indian exporters because Dubai is a major hub for India-Iran trade. Meanwhile, renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi cities add another layer of regional tension to the BRICS meeting.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on September 11, 2026, ahead of a two-day BRICS summit expected to address the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, along with global economic challenges. The meeting brings together leaders of the expanded 11-member grouping, including Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Putin and Pezeshkian are scheduled to meet Modi, while Xi is expected to hold separate talks with the Indian leader. Xi’s visit is particularly significant because it is his first trip to India since 2019 and represents the most substantial sign yet of improving relations between the two countries after a deadly military confrontation along their disputed Himalayan border. Although flights, visas and senior-level contacts have gradually resumed, disagreements over the frontier, trade imbalances and strategic competition continue to produce deep mistrust. The summit is also expected to expose divisions within BRICS. The group was established in 2009 to increase the influence of major emerging economies in international institutions dominated by Western powers. Its expansion to include Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates has increased its geopolitical reach, but has also brought together states with sharply different views on the Middle East conflict. Analysts warned that the war involving Iran could become a major test of the group’s unity, especially after BRICS foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement in May. India is attempting to balance relationships with Iran, Israel, Russia and the United States. It has relied partly on Russian energy to manage the consequences of the Iran war, while Russia remains an important strategic partner despite international controversy over its fuel supplies and ongoing war against Ukraine. India has also maintained diplomatic contact with Ukraine, including a recent visit by Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to Kyiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi for a two-day BRICS summit expected to focus on the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, along with global economic challenges. The meeting brings together leaders from the expanded 11-member group, including Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Putin and Pezeshkian were scheduled to meet Modi, while Xi was expected to hold separate talks with the Indian leader. Xi’s attendance is particularly significant because it marks his first visit to India since 2019 and represents the latest sign of a cautious improvement in relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Flights, visas and high-level contacts have gradually resumed after a deadly 2020 clash along their disputed Himalayan border. However, territorial disagreements, a growing trade imbalance and strategic competition continue to fuel deep mistrust. The conflict in the Middle East is expected to pose a major test for BRICS cohesion. The group’s recent expansion to include Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates has increased its representation but also brought together countries with sharply different positions on the war involving the United States and Israel. Analysts noted that BRICS foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement at a May meeting, raising questions about whether the broader group can reach consensus. India is attempting to balance relationships with Iran, Israel, Russia and the United States. It has relied partly on Russian energy to manage the crisis caused by the Iran war, while Russia remains an important strategic partner despite international controversy over its fuel supplies and its continuing war against Ukraine. India has also maintained diplomatic engagement with Kyiv, with Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visiting the Ukrainian capital and President Volodymyr Zelensky expressing gratitude for India’s commitment to ending the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Sept 11 for an 11-member BRICS summit expected to focus heavily on the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as broader economic difficulties. The gathering brings together major powers and regional actors, including China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, whose differing positions on the conflicts are likely to test the group’s cohesion. Putin was scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Chinese President Xi Jinping was also expected to hold talks with Modi. Xi’s visit would be his first to India since 2019 and represents the most significant development in a cautious improvement in relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours following a deadly 2020 clash along their disputed Himalayan border. Although flights, visas and high-level contacts have gradually resumed, unresolved territorial disputes, a widening trade deficit and strategic competition continue to hinder relations. The Middle East conflict is expected to be a major source of disagreement at the summit. Analysts described the conflict as a potential “fault line” because BRICS’ recent expansion has brought together countries with sharply contrasting foreign-policy positions. The group’s foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement in May, raising questions about whether the expanded bloc can reach consensus. India is attempting to preserve relationships with Iran, Israel, Russia and the United States while addressing its energy requirements. It has relied partly on Russia during the energy crisis linked to the Iran war, even as Moscow remains controversial because of its continuing war against Ukraine. At the same time, Indian officials have maintained contact with Kyiv, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has praised India’s stated commitment to ending the war.

The upcoming BRICS summit in India is expected to draw particular attention to a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Beijing has confirmed that Xi will attend, marking his first visit to India since 2019 and his first since deadly clashes along the disputed Himalayan border severely damaged bilateral relations in 2020. The meeting would be the clearest test yet of a tentative effort by New Delhi and Beijing to restore ties. Relations have improved over the past year, with both sides resuming direct flights, border trade, pilgrimages and other people-to-people exchanges. A recent meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval also produced progress on the border dispute. However, distrust remains, particularly after reports that China denied Indian forces access to some patrol points and encroached on territory in Arunachal Pradesh. Trade is another major issue. China is India’s largest business partner, with bilateral trade reaching $151.1 billion in the year ending March 2026. At the same time, India’s trade deficit with China reached a record $112.16 billion. New Delhi is expected to seek improved market access and action on trade imbalances, while remaining concerned about its dependence on Chinese goods, batteries and other inputs needed for green-energy development. The broader geopolitical context also matters. Strained India-U.S. relations under the second Trump administration have encouraged New Delhi to strengthen ties with other countries while maintaining a strategy of strategic hedging. India is likely to use BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to emphasize its multipolar alignment. Experts caution, however, that BRICS is primarily focused on reforming global financial and governance institutions, not resolving bilateral territorial disputes. Any progress on investment and economic ties is therefore likely to be cautious and constrained by geopolitical concerns.