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Putin, Iran’s Pezeshkian Arrive in India Ahead of BRICS Summit

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in India on Friday ahead of the annual BRICS summit, with conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global trade tensions and energy security expected to dominate discussions.

The two-day summit begins on Saturday and will also be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is expected to arrive in India ahead of the meeting.

Xi’s visit will be his first to India since 2019 and marks a major step in the gradual improvement of relations between the two Asian powers following years of tensions and a deadly military confrontation along their disputed Himalayan border.

Relations between Beijing and New Delhi have improved in recent months, with the two countries gradually restoring flights, visas and high-level diplomatic engagements.

“China stands ready to work with India… by strengthening communication, enhancing cooperation, and properly handling differences,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday.

Despite the thaw, significant differences remain between the two countries, particularly over their disputed border, India’s trade deficit with China and their growing strategic rivalry.

Ahead of Xi’s visit, dozens of Tibetans staged a protest in New Delhi on Friday, carrying placards opposing the Chinese leader. Many Tibetans have lived in exile in India since fleeing China’s crackdown in Tibet in 1959.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold talks with Putin, with Russia remaining one of New Delhi’s key strategic partners.

Welcoming leaders attending the summit, Modi wrote on social media in Sanskrit that debate and friendship should be reserved for the virtuous.

New Delhi has deployed large numbers of security personnel ahead of the summit, while traffic restrictions have been introduced across parts of the capital.

BRICS, established in 2009, was created as a platform for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in international institutions traditionally dominated by Western powers.

Pezeshkian, who arrived in New Delhi on Friday, is also scheduled to meet Modi. Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, quoted the president as saying BRICS was established to counter unilateralism.

Middle East Conflict Poses Challenge

The conflict in the Middle East is expected to be one of the most difficult issues for the expanded BRICS grouping, which now includes countries with sharply different positions on the crisis.

Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have joined the bloc in recent years, alongside founding members including India, China and Russia.

“The Gulf conflict is going to be the central fault line this time during the BRICS summit,” said Harsh V. Pant of India’s Observer Research Foundation.

Pant said the expansion of BRICS, previously regarded as a major achievement, could now make it more difficult for members to reach agreement on contentious international issues.

Pezeshkian’s presence is expected to ensure that the conflict involving Iran receives significant attention during the summit.

“The war in Iran will provide a stern test of the group’s cohesion,” said Shilan Shah of Capital Economics, noting that BRICS foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement during their meeting in New Delhi in May.

United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is also expected to attend, alongside Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

India has maintained diplomatic ties with Iran and Israel while simultaneously seeking to strengthen its relationship with the United States.

New Delhi has also continued to rely heavily on Russian energy supplies despite Western sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Kyiv earlier this month, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked India for its commitment to efforts aimed at ending the war.

With tensions rising across several regions, the BRICS summit will test India’s ability to balance its relationships with Russia, China, Iran, the Gulf states and Western powers while advancing its economic and strategic interests.

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In this article:BRICS 2026, BRICS countries, BRICS Summit, China, Egypt, Energy Crisis, geopolitical tensions, Global Economy, Global Politics, global trade, India, India BRICS summit, India-China relations, India-Russia relations, International News, Iran, Iran war, Masoud Pezeshkian, Middle East Conflict, Narendra Modi, New Delhi, Oil Prices, Russia, Russia-Ukraine war, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Ukraine war, Vladimir Putin, World News, Xi Jinping

Written By Kamsi Francis

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