Putin Hosts The BRICS Summit With Key World Leaders

In the coming days, Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet several world leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian. They are gathering in the Russian city of Kazan for a big BRICS meeting, a group of countries that want to challenge the power of Western nations.

[G20 summit in Osaka in June 2019. MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/AFP/AFP via Getty Images]

Even though many expected that Russia’s war with Ukraine and an international arrest warrant would make Putin a global outcast, this summit shows that he still has strong allies. 

BRICS originally included Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, but this year it grew quickly, adding countries like Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Many others, including Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia, have also applied to join.

For Russia, this event is a major victory. Yuri Ushakov, one of Putin’s top foreign policy advisors, said that 32 countries are attending, and over 20 heads of state will be there. Putin is expected to hold about 20 one-on-one meetings. The summit might even become the largest foreign policy event ever held in Russia.

[Yury Ushakov. Image Collected]

Why Is This Summit Important?

For Putin, the summit is key for two reasons: the image and the deals. First, it lets him stand proudly with global allies despite tensions with the West. Second, he can negotiate important deals to support Russia’s economy and its efforts in the war. For the other leaders attending, it’s a chance to make their voices heard.

One expert, Alexander Gabuyev from the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, says that BRICS is great because it doesn’t require too many commitments from members. It opens the door to interesting opportunities, like spending time with influential leaders.

[Alexander Gabuyev is the Director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.  (Denis Borisov-Ris)]

For Putin, this meeting is also personal. He wants to show that the West’s attempts to isolate him have failed. By hosting the summit, he can send a message to the world that Russia is still a powerful player, leading a group that aims to reduce Western influence.

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[Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the left, talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 16, 2022. (Sergei Bobylev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)[

At the summit, Russia will talk with countries like India and China about expanding trade and avoiding Western sanctions. 

India is an important market for Russian goods, and China is a key source for military-related items. Russia also wants more countries to join a new payment system that could replace the global bank messaging system, SWIFT, which would allow them to trade without worrying about sanctions.

What Does This Mean for Iran and China?

Russia is also set to sign a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty with Iran, showing their close ties. 

After Russia invaded Ukraine, Iran supplied Russia with hundreds of drones, and these helped launch attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure. While both Russia and Iran deny these drone deliveries, they have strengthened their relationship.

Iran is looking to get advanced Russian weapons, like long-range air defense systems and fighter jets, to help protect itself from a possible attack by Israel. When asked about this, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on whether the treaty will include military assistance.

China is also looking to strengthen BRICS. It is pushing for the group to grow, seeing it as a way to challenge the U.S.-led world order. This meeting will help China and Russia solidify their economic, technological, and military ties. There are even talks about creating a new international currency that could compete with the U.S. dollar.

The summit will also give Xi and Putin a chance to show off their close relationship. The two leaders declared a "no-limits" partnership just weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 

They’ve met several times this year, showing a united front. However, some experts believe that Xi might try to distance himself from Putin over the war. Xi wants China to appear neutral in the conflict, as this would help China look like a serious peacemaker.

Balancing Acts for India and Turkey

India’s Prime Minister Modi is also expected to meet with Putin during the summit. Western countries want India to push Russia to end the war in Ukraine. 

However, Modi has avoided criticizing Russia directly, instead focusing on the need for a peaceful solution. India sees Russia as a long-term partner, especially in defense, oil, nuclear energy, and space, despite Russia’s growing ties with India’s rival, China.

[Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet at a ceremony in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on July 9, 2024. AP Photo]

India’s relationship with Russia is complex. On one hand, it relies on Russia for defense ties and regional stability. On the other, its economic growth depends on partnerships with the U.S. and the West. India views BRICS as an economic opportunity, while Russia and China see it as a political one.

Turkey is another key player at the summit, as it has applied to join BRICS. Turkey’s President Erdogan has had rocky relations with the West, and joining BRICS could strengthen his position. 

Turkey’s ties with NATO and the European Union have been strained, particularly after Turkey bought a Russian missile defense system. Turkey was also kicked out of the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program and has criticized Western actions in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Erdogan sees BRICS membership as a way to play both sides. Being part of BRICS would give him more leverage in his dealings with both the West and the BRICS countries. This is important for Turkey, as it tries to gain more benefits from both sides without fully committing to one.

What’s Next?

This BRICS summit is significant for many reasons. For Putin, it’s a chance to show that the West’s efforts to isolate Russia have not succeeded. 

It allows him to negotiate important deals with key global players like India and China. It’s also a chance for other countries, like Turkey and Iran, to strengthen their ties with BRICS members and pursue their interests.

For the world, the expansion of BRICS is a sign that more countries are looking for alternatives to the Western-led global order. The group is growing quickly, and its influence could increase in the coming years.