World leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping and India’s Narendra Modi, gathered in Kazan, Russia, for a BRICS summit aimed at countering Western influence. Russian President Vladimir Putin views this three-day meeting as a way to showcase support for Russia amid its isolation due to the Ukraine conflict, AP News reports.
The summit, described as Russia’s largest foreign policy event, features representatives from 36 countries. The BRICS alliance, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has expanded to include countries like Iran, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, with others expressing interest.
Putin held bilateral talks with key leaders, including Xi and Modi, reinforcing Russia’s strategic partnerships with China and India. Xi highlighted the deepening Russia-China ties, while Modi called for peace but refrained from condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Putin is also expected to meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has criticized Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
The summit reflects Russia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with the Global South while exploring economic alternatives, such as creating a new independent payment system with BRICS members to bypass Western sanctions.
