KABUL(Pajhwok): Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in New Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit, where the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine and global economic challenges are expected to be key issues.
Al Jazeera reported that Putin arrived on Friday for the two-day summit, attended by leaders of 11 BRICS member states.
Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while Chinese President Xi Jinping is also scheduled to hold talks with Modi on the sidelines of the summit.
Putin was received at Palam Air Base by Kirti Vardhan Singh, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs.
New Delhi has imposed tight security and extensive traffic restrictions as foreign leaders arrive.
BRICS was established in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa as a forum for major emerging economies. It has since expanded to include countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Al Jazeera reported that differences among BRICS members over the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran could test the group’s unity. The Russia-Ukraine war is also expected to be a major topic.
Pezeshkian’s visit is his first to India as president and the first by an Iranian president to the country in eight years. Xi’s visit is his first to India since 2019, as the two countries seek to improve relations after years of border tensions.
India holds the BRICS presidency in 2026, with the summit taking place in New Delhi on September 11–12.
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