Putin arrives in India as Iran war overshadows BRICS

NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India on Friday ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit, with the gathering of emerging powers set to be dominated by the wars in Iran and Ukraine, global trade tensions and the growing pressure on energy markets.

India is hosting the two-day summit on September 12 and 13 as the expanded 11-member BRICS grouping faces one of its most difficult tests of unity. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and several other leaders are also expected to attend.

Putin’s visit carries particular importance for New Delhi, which considers Moscow a longstanding strategic partner and a major source of energy. He is scheduled to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, with trade, energy, defence and wider strategic cooperation expected to feature prominently.

The summit comes at a sensitive moment for the bloc. The ongoing conflict involving Iran has exposed sharp differences among BRICS members, particularly between Iran and the United Arab Emirates. The crisis has also disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed global crude prices higher.

Iran war puts BRICS unity to the test

The Middle East conflict is expected to dominate discussions when BRICS leaders gather in New Delhi.

Iran became a full BRICS member in 2024, while the UAE has also joined the expanded grouping. Their opposing positions over the conflict have complicated efforts to produce a joint declaration.

BRICS foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement during their meeting in New Delhi in May, highlighting the difficulty of reaching consensus within the enlarged bloc.

Analysts say the latest crisis could therefore become a major test of whether BRICS can translate its growing economic and political influence into a coordinated international position.

The grouping was originally established to give major emerging economies greater influence in a global system long dominated by Western institutions. Its expansion has significantly increased its reach, but has also brought together countries with increasingly different geopolitical interests.

Modi balances Russia, China and the West

For India, the summit is also an opportunity to manage several complicated relationships at the same time.

Modi is expected to meet Xi Jinping during the summit, marking another step in the cautious improvement of India-China relations following years of tensions along their disputed Himalayan border. China and India are also seeking to rebuild economic and diplomatic engagement.

At the same time, New Delhi continues to maintain close ties with Moscow while carefully managing its relationship with Washington.

Russia has remained an important energy supplier to India, particularly as the global energy crisis has intensified. India has also repeatedly called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the Ukraine conflict rather than openly aligning itself with either side.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar recently visited Kyiv, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed appreciation for India’s efforts toward ending the war.

A summit overshadowed by conflict

With Putin already in New Delhi and Xi due to arrive, the BRICS summit is expected to become a major diplomatic stage for discussions on war, energy security, trade and the future of the global economic order.

The challenge for India will be to keep the expanded bloc focused on cooperation despite deep disagreements among its members.

For BRICS, meanwhile, the summit could determine whether its rapid expansion strengthens its influence — or exposes divisions that make collective action increasingly difficult.