Sep 11, Kathmandu - Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in New Delhi on Friday to participate in the two-day BRICS summit. The summit is expected to focus on pressing global issues including the Middle East conflict, the Russia-Ukraine war, and challenges facing the world economy. Alongside Putin, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has also attended the summit.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well. As BRICS expands its membership, the member countries are experiencing diverging political and strategic priorities.

Notably, there is a lack of consensus among member states regarding the ongoing conflicts in West Asia, making it challenging to forge a unified stance at this summit. India has maintained balanced relations with Iran, Israel, the United States, and Russia. The impact of the Middle East conflicts on energy markets and India’s energy collaborations with Russia remain key issues for New Delhi. The Russia-Ukraine war is also set to be a major topic of discussion.

Despite Western sanctions on Russia, India has continued to sustain strategic relations with Moscow. India advocates for dialogue and diplomatic solutions to resolve the Ukraine conflict. However, the failure to issue a joint statement during the recent BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi suggests that reaching a common position on the war will be difficult this time.

The summit will serve as a diplomatic test for India, balancing its relations with Russia and Iran while managing strategic partnerships with Western countries.