The summit, hosted by India after five years, comes amid geopolitical tensions dominated by the wars in the Middle East and Europe.
Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are among the world leaders expected to attend next month’s BRICS Summit in New Delhi, sources in the government told NDTV.
Jaishankar at the Kremlin on Monday, Putin highlighted a recovery in trade turnover between Russia and India following a dip the prior year. The grouping, which now stretches across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, is expected to bring together leaders and senior representatives from across the bloc. The other heads of state expected to visit New Delhi for the summit include South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa, Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Belarus’ president Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakhstan’s president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Indonesia’s president Prabowo Subianto. Uganda may be represented by Vice President Jessica Alupo, Vietnam by Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, instead of his father, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. On paper, the agenda is set to focus on trade, development financing, and reform of global institutions, but behind closed doors, the Middle East conflict and differences between Iran and the UAE are likely to dominate the meetings. The wording of any joint statement remains under negotiation. Russian President Putin also aims to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a regional forum, while calling for stepped-up trade cooperation between the two nations. At a meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister S. He then asked the foreign minister to pass on his greetings to the prime minister.
Because of domestic commitments, with the country likely to be represented by its foreign minister Mauro Vieira, from Brazil, a founding member of the group, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is not expected to attend.
