Putin to host BRICS summit looking to advance Russia’s own interests

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet with several world leaders in the upcoming days, including China’s Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian. 

They will all gather in the Russian city of Kazan on Tuesday for a BRICS summit, despite prior speculations that the Ukraine war and an international arrest warrant would isolate Putin. 

BRICS, originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has expanded significantly this year. New members include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.

Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia have also formally applied, with other countries expressing interest. 

Russian officials already view the summit as a major success. According to Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, 32 countries have confirmed participation, with more than 20 heads of state attending. 

Ushakov mentioned that Putin plans to hold around 20 bilateral meetings, suggesting this could become “the largest foreign policy event ever held” on Russian soil. 

Why has BRICS become more important recently?

For Putin, the event is essential both symbolically and practically. It shows Russia standing alongside global allies despite tensions with the West. On a practical level, the Kremlin will use the summit to negotiate deals aimed at improving its economy and war effort. 

Analysts note that for other participants, the summit presents an opportunity to boost their narratives on the global stage. 

China and India are particularly important partners for Russia. Moscow will explore ways to expand trade and evade Western sanctions, with India being a significant buyer of Russian commodities, while China could provide dual-use goods critical to Russia’s military efforts. 

Additionally, Russia aims to gain wider support for an alternative payment system to bypass the global SWIFT network, in hopes that a platform involving key players like China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil could be immune from US sanctions. 

Iran, another key participant, is expected to formalise a strategic partnership with Russia. This comes after Iran reportedly provided Russia with drones during its invasion of Ukraine, which both countries deny. In exchange, Tehran is seeking advanced Russian weapons to defend against potential threats from Israel. 

Meanwhile, China views BRICS as a way to promote alternatives to the US-led global order. Beijing has been a key advocate for expanding the bloc, and the Kazan summit will deepen economic, technological, and military ties within the group. 

While Putin will seek to emphasise his close relationship with Xi, experts are watching for signs of subtle distancing by China, especially regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine, as Xi seeks to maintain a neutral stance. 

India’s Modi is expected to strike a delicate balance, maintaining the country’s long-standing ties with Russia while also being mindful of Western pressure to encourage Moscow towards peace. 

Likewise, Turkey’s Erdogan, frustrated with the West, is likely to use the summit to strengthen his standing and navigate between different global power blocs. 

For Putin, this summit will show that Western efforts to isolate him have failed while highlighting the shifting global power balance, with emerging economies seeking a stronger international role.