Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the Indian capital of New Delhi on Friday ahead of an 11-member BRICS summit, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. The two-day gathering convenes against the backdrop of heightened international conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, alongside pressing global financial challenges. Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are scheduled to hold individual discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the diplomatic forum. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also anticipated to take part in bilateral consultations with the Indian leadership on the sidelines of the meeting.
The expanded bloc faces significant diplomatic scrutiny during the high-stakes deliberations.
Putin touched down at Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi, where he was formally received by India`s Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, according to video footage broadcast by Russian state agency Ria Novosti. Extensive security arrangements have been implemented across the city to protect visiting foreign delegations. Local authorities deployed substantial paramilitary forces and placed strict vehicular movement limits on major corridors around the central venues. Delhi police issued public notices requesting patience and cooperation from city residents throughout the weekend.
The diplomatic alliance originated in 2009 with founding partners Brazil, Russia, India, and China aiming to build an alternative platform to Western-led financial mechanisms. South Africa formally joined the grouping the following year, which later expanded to include nations such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Diplomatic analysts observe that conflicting strategic stances among regional member states regarding Middle Eastern military operations present a direct test of the group`s cohesion.
Prime Minister Modi and President Putin previously met during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek. Bilateral discussions in New Delhi are expected to focus on strategic trade links, fuel supplies, and defense cooperation. Formal leadership sessions involving the full member roster are set to commence at Bharat Mandapam on Saturday morning
