BRICS Summit Russia: Leaders Rally Amid Tensions with West \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ China’s Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi, and other world leaders arrived in Kazan, Russia, for a crucial BRICS summit, signaling a strengthened alliance among developing economies. The event, hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, serves as a platform to showcase Russia’s growing support from the Global South and to counter Western efforts to isolate it over the conflict in Ukraine. The BRICS bloc has expanded to include countries such as Iran, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, with discussions focusing on economic ties and creating an alternative payment system to bypass Western sanctions.
BRICS Summit in Russia Draws Global Leaders Amid Western Tensions: Quick Looks
- Leaders Gather in Kazan: Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi, and other heads of state attended the BRICS summit in Kazan, signaling growing solidarity among developing economies.
- Defying Western Influence: Russia seeks to demonstrate the failure of U.S.-led efforts to isolate it over the Ukraine conflict, using the BRICS platform to rally support from the Global South.
- Expansion of BRICS Bloc: The BRICS alliance has expanded to include new members like Iran, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, while several other nations have expressed interest in joining.
- Economic Cooperation: BRICS leaders discussed creating an alternative payment system to evade Western sanctions, strengthening financial ties within the bloc and boosting trade between member nations.
- Putin’s Diplomatic Push: The summit provided an opportunity for Putin to hold bilateral meetings with key allies like Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi, reinforcing strategic partnerships.
Deep Look:
In a significant show of geopolitical solidarity, world leaders from some of the world’s largest developing economies, including China’s Xi Jinping and India’s Narendra Modi, converged in the Russian city of Kazan for the BRICS summit. The summit comes at a time of heightened tension between Russia and Western nations, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine. It provides Russian President Vladimir Putin with a powerful platform to demonstrate that despite international sanctions, Russia is far from isolated.
Over the course of three days, the summit will serve as a strategic forum for the BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—to strengthen their economic, political, and security alliances. Putin is also using the gathering to emphasize the growing importance of the Global South, as BRICS expands its membership to include influential new players like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Ethiopia. The summit’s goal is clear: to counterbalance Western dominance in global affairs and reshape the geopolitical landscape by building deeper ties between nations that seek alternatives to U.S. and European-led institutions.
The Expansion of BRICS
What began as a small coalition of five countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) is now rapidly evolving into a much larger bloc. New additions, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Egypt, signal a shift in global economic dynamics, as these nations look to increase their geopolitical influence and reduce reliance on Western markets and institutions. Even more countries are seeking entry into BRICS, with Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia formally applying for membership.
This expansion reflects the appeal of BRICS as a forum for countries seeking to exert greater independence from Western economic systems and global financial networks, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. With countries like Saudi Arabia—one of the world’s largest oil producers—joining the bloc, BRICS is becoming an even more formidable economic alliance. The inclusion of these oil-rich nations could also shift the global energy landscape, especially given Saudi Arabia’s strategic role in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Putin’s Diplomatic Strategy
For Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kazan summit presents a unique opportunity to showcase Russia’s diplomatic reach and growing partnerships, even as the country faces intense scrutiny and sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. By hosting world leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping and India’s Narendra Modi, Putin underscores the failure of Western efforts to isolate Russia. The fact that so many heads of state attended the event in person is a strong signal of Russia’s continued relevance on the global stage.
Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov called the summit “the largest foreign policy event ever held by Russia,” highlighting its significance. Putin is expected to hold about 20 bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, with key sessions already taking place with Xi, Modi, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. These meetings underscore the robust relationships Putin has fostered with key BRICS members and signal Russia’s commitment to deepening ties with its Global South allies.
Strengthening Russia-China Relations
China’s Xi Jinping has become one of Putin’s most important allies, particularly after the two leaders announced a “no-limits” partnership just weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Since then, Russia and China have strengthened their economic and strategic ties, particularly in the face of increasing Western sanctions and diplomatic pressure. Putin and Xi have already met twice this year, and the BRICS summit gave them another opportunity to reinforce their partnership.
During their meeting on Tuesday, Putin described the relationship between Russia and China as “one of the main stabilizing factors on the world arena.” Xi, for his part, emphasized the importance of their partnership in navigating what he called the “tectonic transformations” reshaping the global order. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working together across multilateral forums and promoting what they view as a more fair and balanced global system.
India’s Strategic Role in BRICS
Russia’s relationship with India has also flourished, even as India walks a delicate tightrope between its partnerships with Russia and the West. While India has refrained from publicly condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the need for a peaceful settlement to the conflict. At the same time, India has expanded its trade with Russia, particularly in energy, positioning itself as a key player in the BRICS bloc.
Economic Ambitions: BRICS Payment System
One of the most critical discussions at the summit revolves around the creation of a new, independent payment system that could serve as an alternative to SWIFT, the global financial messaging network used for international transactions. Such a system would allow BRICS nations, particularly Russia, to circumvent Western sanctions and continue trading with their partners without fear of financial restrictions.
This proposed payment system is seen as a game-changer for BRICS, as it would significantly reduce the bloc’s dependence on Western financial networks and offer its members greater economic autonomy. The idea has been particularly appealing to Russia, which has faced crippling sanctions in the wake of its war in Ukraine. With backing from BRICS allies, Moscow hopes to mitigate the economic impact of these sanctions while promoting a multipolar world order.
BRICS and the Global South
The BRICS summit is not just about strengthening economic ties—it also serves as a rallying point for countries in the Global South that are seeking to distance themselves from Western dominance in global affairs. Many nations within BRICS share a vision of a multipolar world, where power is more evenly distributed across regions, and countries in the Global South have a stronger voice on the international stage.
Looking Ahead
As the summit continues, Putin is expected to meet with more leaders, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The presence of Guterres, who has been critical of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, could open the door to discussions about potential diplomatic solutions to the conflict, although any resolution remains far from certain.
With the growing influence of BRICS and the expansion of its membership, the alliance is poised to play an increasingly significant role in global affairs. The Kazan summit highlights not only the bloc’s economic ambitions but also its political goals, as BRICS nations continue to challenge Western influence and seek greater autonomy in shaping the future world order.
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