Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazan on October 22, 2024, on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit. Their meeting underscored the growing importance of the BRICS bloc as a platform for dialogue amid shifting global dynamics.
The summit, which marks the first gathering of BRICS leaders since the inclusion of new members like Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE, comes at a time when the group aims to strengthen its influence against the backdrop of the ongoing Ukraine conflict and tensions in West Asia. Currently, the whole world is facing war crisis and BRICS’s main agenda is to mage the situation adequately
Modi’s discussions with Putin are expected to focus on key issues such as energy cooperation, regional security, and trade, as well as Putin’s push for a BRICS-led alternative to the SWIFT payment system, which Russia was excluded from in 2022 due to sanctions. Modi emphasized India’s commitment to promoting multipolarity and addressing global challenges through BRICS, aligning with the bloc’s broader goals of enhancing cooperation among non-Western powers.
In addition to his talks with Putin, Modi is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other global leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The discussions are expected to cover a wide range of issues, from strengthening cultural exchanges and boosting trade partnerships to addressing regional conflicts and geopolitical tensions.
The summit will culminate with the adoption of the Kazan Declaration, which outlines the future course of BRICS cooperation. With over 36 countries represented and 20 heads of state in attendance, this year’s BRICS summit highlights the bloc’s growing influence on the world stage. Russia, as host, is using the summit to showcase its foreign policy success and its ability to foster collaboration among emerging economies despite international sanctions and geopolitical pressures.
