Putin arrives in New Delhi for BRICS talks amid regional conflicts
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in New Delhi for the BRICS summit, where the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East are expected to dominate discussions. He is set to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, with Chinese President Xi Jinping also attending. Security is tight across the Indian capital as the two-day meeting begins.
Putin received a formal welcome at Palam Air Force Station from India's Minister of State for External Affairs. The capital is under heavy security with widespread traffic restrictions, while posters of Prime Minister Modi line the streets to greet the visiting dignitaries.
The summit's expanded membership, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, creates internal friction due to their divergent stances on the Middle East conflict. Pezeshkian makes his first presidential visit to India in eight years, while Xi's trip is his first since 2019, signaling a gradual diplomatic thaw following a 2020 border clash.
The summit's outcome could shape regional stability, as India's balancing act between Western allies and Russia/Iran faces pressure. The inability to issue a joint statement in May suggests that divisions over the Middle East war may hinder collective action. For ordinary citizens in New Delhi, the security lockdown disrupts daily life, while broader geopolitical shifts could influence energy prices and diplomatic alignments across South Asia and the Gulf.