Key Takeaways

• Putin arrives in New Delhi for BRICS summit focused on Ukraine and Iran wars.
• Xi Jinping and Masoud Pezeshkian hold separate talks with Modi during two-day event.
• Expanded BRICS faces internal divisions over conflicting positions on the Israel-Iran conflict.
• India balances relationships with Iran, Israel, and Washington amidst energy and strategic challenges.
• Xi’s visit marks a cautious thaw in India-China relations after years of border tensions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the Indian capital on Friday, marking his entry into a high-stakes diplomatic arena dominated by ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The BRICS summit is set to be a critical test for the grouping’s cohesion as it grapples with the complexities of its expanded membership and global geopolitical fractures. Putin’s arrival at Palam Air Force Station was accompanied by heavy security measures and traffic restrictions across New Delhi, underscoring the significance of the gathering.

The summit brings together leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. These nations, while sharing a desire for greater influence in Western-dominated institutions, hold sharply divergent views on current global crises. The expansion of the group, once seen as a major achievement, now presents significant challenges in forming a unified stance.

Shifting Alliances and Diplomatic Maneuvers

Putin’s visit comes months after he last visited India in December 2025 and shortly after his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. This time, however, the context is markedly different. India has been navigating a delicate diplomatic path, maintaining cordial relations with both Iran and Israel while carefully balancing its ties with Washington. This balancing act is crucial as India manages its energy security in light of the ongoing war in the region.

The presence of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian adds another layer of complexity. His visit is the first by an Iranian president in eight years, signaling the importance Iran places on the summit. Pezeshkian is expected to hold talks with Modi, placing the India Iran war context firmly on the agenda. The conflict, which includes a US-Israel campaign against Iran launched in February, has become a central fault line for the group.

Experts warn that the Gulf conflict is testing the limits of BRICS unity. The group’s foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement during their meeting in New Delhi in May, a clear indicator of underlying tensions. Shilan Shah of Capital Economics noted that the war in Iran poses a stern test for the expanded group’s cohesion. The divergent positions of members like Iran and Saudi Arabia make consensus difficult, challenging the group’s original purpose as a unified bloc of emerging economies.

Strategic Thaws and Deep Mistrust

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to meet Modi on the sidelines of the summit. This will be Xi’s first visit to India since 2019, marking a significant step in a cautious thaw between the two nuclear-armed rivals. Relations have been warming recently, with the gradual restoration of flights, visas, and high-level contacts. However, deep mistrust remains, fueled by a contested Himalayan border, a widening trade deficit, and strategic rivalry.

The history of tension is evident in the deadly military clash along the disputed border six years ago. Despite recent efforts to ease tensions, the underlying issues persist. The Xi Jinping Modi meeting is seen as a critical opportunity to manage these bilateral relations, even as both nations navigate their respective alliances with Russia and other global powers.

India’s position is further complicated by its energy crisis. With the war on Iran disrupting energy supplies, India has turned to Russia, one of its most important strategic partners. However, this reliance on Moscow is controversial, especially as Russia’s war against Ukraine drags on. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar recently visited Kyiv, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for India’s commitment to ending the war. This visit highlights India’s attempt to maintain a neutral but principled stance, distinct from its partners.

Trump’s recent comments suggesting Putin wants to make a deal to end the Ukraine war add another layer of speculation to the summit. While direct quotes from Trump are not part of the official agenda, the global discourse around the war continues to influence the strategic calculations of BRICS members. Europe’s far-right parties are also seen as potential allies for Putin, further complicating the geopolitical landscape.

The UN envoy has warned that the Security Council’s handling of Yemen’s war has entered a dangerous phase, reflecting the broader instability that BRICS members are navigating. Meanwhile, Iran’s claim to have captured a US ‘sail drone’ near the Hormuz Strait highlights the escalating tensions in the region. These events underscore the urgency and difficulty of the discussions taking place in New Delhi.

As the summit progresses, the focus will remain on whether BRICS can overcome its internal divisions to present a united front on global economic challenges. The group was created in 2009 to challenge Western dominance, but its current composition tests the limits of that goal. The economic challenges faced by emerging economies are real, but the political divergences are equally stark.

The outcome of this summit will be closely watched by international observers. It will determine whether BRICS can function as a cohesive bloc or if it will continue to fragment under the weight of conflicting national interests. For India, the summit is a test of its diplomatic prowess, requiring it to balance its relationships with all major powers.

BRICS Cohesion Under Scrutiny

The BRICS summit in New Delhi highlights the group’s struggle to maintain unity amid deep geopolitical divides. With the India Iran war and Ukraine conflict as central themes, the expanded bloc faces significant internal friction. While economic cooperation remains a shared goal, the divergent stances on major global conflicts threaten to undermine its effectiveness. The future of BRICS depends on whether members can find common ground despite their strategic rivalries and conflicting alliances, particularly between Russia, Iran, and Western-aligned partners.