World Leaders Convene in New Delhi as BRICS Summit Confronts Widening Global Crises

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Friday to participate in a high-stakes, two-day BRICS summit, joining other prominent world leaders as major international conflicts and economic pressures cast a heavy shadow over the multilateral gathering. The high-level conference brings together heads of state from the 11-member group, with discussions expected to center on the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, alongside pressing global financial headwinds.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India is hosting the gathering and is scheduled to hold separate bilateral talks with President Putin as well as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also attending the summit and is widely anticipated to engage in high-level discussions during his stay in the Indian capital.

For President Xi, the trip represents his first official visit to India since 2019, signifying what observers view as the most notable advancement to date in an ongoing, cautious diplomatic rapprochement between the two neighboring powers. Bilateral relations between the nuclear-armed nations had deteriorated severely six years ago following a fatal military confrontation along their contested border in the Himalayas.

Diplomatic ties between Beijing and New Delhi have shown signs of gradual improvement in recent months. The two Asian powers have taken measured steps toward restoring normalcy by re-establishing direct commercial flights, reopening visa services, and resuming regular senior-level official engagements.

Despite these constructive steps, profound bilateral friction persists between the two governments. A deeply entrenched mutual suspicion continues to define relations, driven by their disputed Himalayan frontier, a steadily growing trade deficit heavily favoring China, and an enduring broader strategic rivalry across the region.

Throughout New Delhi, extensive preparations have transformed the urban landscape for the event. Prominent banners displaying images of a smiling Prime Minister Modi line major thoroughfares to welcome visiting foreign dignitaries, while heavily armed security detachments have been deployed across key installations in the capital.

Local authorities have also enforced sweeping vehicular traffic restrictions across central districts of the city to secure the summit perimeter. In light of the significant daily disruption caused by these extensive motorcades and road closures, the Delhi police have publicly appealed to local residents for cooperation and patience.

The BRICS coalition was initially established in 2009 by leading emerging markets seeking to amplify their collective voice and counterbalance the long-standing authority of Western powers in international governance institutions. Over time, the bloc has expanded significantly beyond its founding members to encompass 11 nations.

However, the rapid enlargement and changing geopolitical climate have brought internal complexities to the fore. Harsh V. Pant, an analyst at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation, observed that the escalating conflict across the Gulf region is poised to become the central fault line during this summit.

Pant noted that the significant expansion of the bloc, which had been widely celebrated as a historic milestone until last year, now presents substantial practical challenges to the group's unity. According to the analyst, managing competing interests among the newer and older members has emerged as a notable constraint on BRICS decision-making.

The gathering also marks President Masoud Pezeshkian's inaugural visit to India in his capacity as Iran's head of state. His physical presence at the negotiating table ensures that the volatile security situation across the Middle East will remain at the forefront of leaders' working sessions.

Financial and geopolitical analysts believe that the current regional turmoil will severely challenge the bloc's capacity to formulate a unified diplomatic stance. Shilan Shah of Capital Economics emphasized that the ongoing war involving Iran will serve as a rigorous test for the expanded group's internal cohesion, recalling that BRICS foreign ministers were unable to reach an agreement on a joint declaration when they previously convened in New Delhi in May.

For host nation India, the high-profile summit requires a careful diplomatic balancing act. New Delhi continues to cultivate warm and cooperative relationships with both Iran and Israel, all while preserving and prioritizing its strategic partnership with the United States.

At the same time, Indian leadership has maintained its channels of communication with Moscow. Prior to this week's summit, President Putin had visited India in December 2025, and he recently held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi earlier this month during a visit to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

Simultaneously, India has maintained direct diplomatic outreach with Ukrainian leadership regarding the conflict in Eastern Europe. Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar traveled to Kyiv earlier this month, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly expressed his gratitude to New Delhi for demonstrating an active commitment toward ending the unjust war.