Putin lands in India for BRICs summit, shadowed by Iran and Ukraine wars - Al Jazeera

**Putin lands in India for BRICS summit, shadowed by Iran and Ukraine wars**

Moscow’s President Vladimir Putin touched down in New Delhi on Thursday, marking the first time he has visited India for a BRICS summit since the bloc expanded to include Saudi Arabia and Argentina in 2024. He arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport amid heightened security and was received by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who welcomed the Russian leader with a statement emphasizing “positive discussions and a shared aspiration for global welfare.” The 2026 BRICS summit, scheduled to run from 24‑26 September, will bring together heads of state from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Argentina to debate trade, energy cooperation, and the geopolitical fallout from ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

While the summit’s agenda is set to focus on expanding intra‑BRICS trade, deepening cooperation in renewable and hydro‑carbon energy, and exploring mechanisms for a “peaceful resolution” to the war in Ukraine, the shadow of two parallel crises looms large. The war in Ukraine has left Russia isolated from much of the West, prompting Moscow to lean on BRICS partners for economic and diplomatic support, while Iran’s renewed confrontations with Israel have raised concerns about regional stability. Indian officials have indicated that discussions will include “constructive engagement” with all parties, seeking to balance India’s non‑aligned foreign policy with its strategic ties to both Moscow and Tehran.

Analysts note that Putin’s presence in New Delhi underscores the deepening Russia‑India partnership, particularly in defense and energy sectors, yet it also places India in a delicate diplomatic spot. New Delhi is simultaneously courting Western investment and maintaining its own strategic autonomy, a tightrope reflected in Modi’s remarks that the summit will “focus on trade, energy security and, importantly, a pragmatic approach to peace in Ukraine.” Observers will watch closely how the leaders navigate calls for sanctions relief, the future of the BRICS New Development Bank, and the broader question of whether the bloc can evolve into a credible counterweight to Western-dominated institutions.