Putin Arrives in India as BRICS Summit Faces Wars and Trade Tensions
Modi to meet Putin and Pezeshkian as BRICS leaders prepare to discuss the Middle East, Ukraine, trade and energy
Vladimir Putin arrives in India ahead of the BRICS summit
NEW DELHI, September 11, 2026: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India on Friday for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of a major BRICS summit focused on wars, energy pressures and global economic challenges.
The two-day annual summit begins on Saturday. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to attend, alongside Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other leaders.
The conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine are expected to dominate discussions. Global trade tensions and oil supplies will also feature prominently.
Xi’s India Visit Signals Cautious Thaw
Xi’s visit will mark his first trip to India since 2019.
The meeting represents the latest step in efforts to improve ties between the two Asian powers. Relations suffered a major setback after a deadly military clash along their disputed Himalayan border six years ago.
Flights, visas and high-level contacts have gradually resumed in recent months.
However, significant tensions remain. The two countries continue to face disagreements over their border, trade imbalance and wider strategic competition.
Modi welcomed the arriving leaders on social media with a Sanskrit message urging engagement and friendship with virtuous partners.
Modi to Hold Talks With Putin
Modi is scheduled to meet Putin on Friday.
Putin last visited India in December 2025. Russia remains one of New Delhi’s key strategic partners.
India has also relied on Russian energy supplies as it manages the disruption caused by the Iran war.
Pezeshkian is expected to arrive in India on Friday. He is also due to hold talks with Modi during the visit.
Middle East Conflict Tests BRICS Unity
The Middle East war could present a major challenge for the expanded BRICS group.
The bloc was established in 2009 by major emerging economies seeking greater influence in international institutions traditionally dominated by Western powers.
Its membership has since expanded. Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are now members despite their differing positions on the conflict involving the United States and Israel.
Harsh V Pant of India’s Observer Research Foundation said the Gulf conflict would be a major dividing issue at this year’s summit.
He argued that BRICS expansion, previously viewed as a major achievement, could now make consensus more difficult.
Iran War Puts Group’s Cohesion Under Pressure
Pezeshkian’s visit will be his first to India as Iranian president.
Analysts expect the Iran war to receive significant attention during his talks with Indian officials.
Shilan Shah of Capital Economics said the conflict would test the cohesion of the expanded BRICS group.
The bloc already faced difficulties reaching a common position. BRICS foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement during their meeting in New Delhi in May.
The summit will also bring together senior representatives from several Middle Eastern countries. UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is expected to attend, while Saudi Arabia will be represented by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is also expected.
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India Balances Ties With Iran, Israel and US
New Delhi maintains relations with both Iran and Israel. At the same time, India continues to manage an important strategic relationship with Washington.
The Iran war has complicated that balancing act.
India has turned to Russia to help manage energy pressures. Moscow remains one of New Delhi’s most important strategic partners.
Meanwhile, India has also maintained diplomatic engagement with Ukraine.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Kyiv this month. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky subsequently thanked India for its stated commitment to ending the war.
The BRICS summit will therefore place India at the centre of several competing geopolitical interests as leaders seek common ground on security, trade and energy.
