Vladimir Putin has landed in Delhi ahead of the BRICS leaders’ summit, set to open with a sharp focus on the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. The Russian president’s arrival signals the geopolitical center stage he intends to occupy alongside new developments within the BRICS alliance.
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## Arrival and Diplomatic Engagements
Putin touched down at Palam Air Force Station, where Kirti Vardhan Singh, India’s minister of state for external affairs, welcomed him. In attendance at the two-day summit are India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping—Xi’s first visit to India since 2019 after the deadly border clashes in the Himalayas. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian will also join discussions, marking his inaugural trip to India in that capacity.
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## BRICS Expansion Under Scrutiny
Originally founded in 2009 to amplify emerging economies’ voices against western-dominated institutions, BRICS has recently grown more diverse. Its membership now includes Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—countries with vastly different war-related stances, especially concerning U.S. involvement in the Middle East.
Analysts believe this expansion, once heralded as BRICS’ strength, is now testing its internal cohesion. Harsh V Pant of the Observer Research Foundation points out that what was an achievement a year ago may today be a significant constraint.
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## Spotlight on Conflict: Ukraine and Middle East Wars
War in Ukraine remains central to the summit’s agenda. Amidst increasing international pressure, Russia continues its military campaign, while tensions simmer between Russia and the West. Modi’s government, caught between longstanding ties with Russia and growing global expectations, is navigating a delicate diplomatic path.
Meanwhile, the Middle East war—particularly the clash between the U.S. and Israel—looms large. With Iran now formally integrated into BRICS, questions arise over whether the group can forge unified policy responses. Reports from May indicate that Brics foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement during their meeting in Delhi. Shilan Shah of Capital Economics warned that the Iran conflict will be “a stern test” of BRICS’ ability to sustain unity.
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## India’s Balancing Act
India displays a nuanced diplomatic stance, maintaining friendly relations with Iran and Israel while remaining sensitive to its alliance with the U.S. Energy security issues arising from Middle East instability have prompted New Delhi to lean toward Russia, a longtime partner and a primary fuel supplier during the war in Ukraine.
In recent weeks, India has made notable outreach efforts. Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Kyiv, where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for India’s efforts toward ending what he called “this unjust war.”
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## China-India Relations: Cautious Thaw
President Xi Jinping’s attendance carries additional symbolic weight. Since the deadly 2020 clash along their disputed border, ties between China and India have remained tense. This summit represents arguably the most significant warming of relations since then, featuring restored flights, renewed visas, and more frequent high-level meetings.
Still, deep-rooted issues linger. Their shared boundary dispute, a pronounced trade imbalance, and strategic competition continue to color diplomatic interactions.
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## High Security, High Stakes
Ahead of the summit’s opening, Delhi has undertaken tight security measures. The city’s streets display posters of Prime Minister Modi, while traffic restrictions and visible law enforcement presence have become the norm in central areas. Local authorities have called on residents to cooperate.
For Putin, this trip marks his second visit to India this year; he was in December 2025. He also met Modi recently in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
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## Questions of Unity and Cohesion
The BRICS summit arrives at a precarious moment. With its largest-ever membership, the group now comprises nations with diverging views on key global conflicts. Observers caution that internal divisions could challenge efforts to issue joint statements or coordinate collective actions—particularly regarding the Iran situation.
India’s role as summit host places it in the tough spot of mediator—maintaining ties with the U.S., managing its own geopolitical interests, and steering a complex collective toward consensus.
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As leaders gather in Delhi, the summit’s tone will likely reflect the tension between expanding influence and preserving alignment in a fractured international order. With Ukraine’s war ongoing and the conflict in the Middle East escalating, BRICS’ ability to speak as one might be under its greatest evaluation yet.
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