Putin Seeks to Rally BRICS Bloc as Counterbalance to Western Clout

BRICS summit 2024/ Putin Xi Jinping meeting/ BRICS Global South/ Russia Global South alliances/ BRICS economic ties/ Russia India partnership/ Newslooks/ KAZAN/ Russia/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting global leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping and India’s Narendra Modi, at a BRICS summit in Kazan, showcasing the Kremlin’s efforts to counter Western influence and foster economic ties with the Global South. The summit, attended by representatives from 36 countries, aims to deepen cooperation, including creating an alternative payment system to evade Western sanctions. Putin also held key meetings with Xi and Modi, underscoring Russia’s strategic partnerships amid rising global tensions.

Putin Hosts BRICS Summit to Challenge Western Influence: Quick Looks

• Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed leaders from China, India, and other Global South nations to the BRICS summit in Kazan, signaling efforts to counter Western dominance.
• The BRICS bloc has expanded rapidly, now including nations like Iran, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, with several others expressing interest in joining.
• The summit focuses on strengthening economic ties, including a proposed payment system to bypass Western sanctions.
• Putin held bilateral talks with China’s Xi Jinping and India’s Narendra Modi, highlighting Russia’s close relationships with both nations.

Putin Seeks to Rally BRICS Bloc as Counterbalance to Western Clout

Deep Look:

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed leaders from China, India, and several other Global South nations to Kazan on Tuesday for a three-day BRICS summit, positioning the event as a critical gathering to challenge Western influence on the global stage. With the BRICS bloc rapidly expanding and tensions with the West continuing to escalate over the war in Ukraine, Putin hopes to strengthen Russia’s alliances with non-Western countries and build an alternative economic order.

The BRICS alliance, originally composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has now grown to include nations like Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Other countries, including Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia, have formally applied for membership. As the summit commenced, Putin hailed the event as the largest foreign policy gathering ever held by Russia, with representatives from 36 countries, 20 of them heads of state.

Defying Isolation and Expanding Global Ties

The BRICS summit serves as a powerful opportunity for Putin to showcase Russia’s ability to form meaningful international partnerships despite U.S.-led efforts to isolate the country over its actions in Ukraine. Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov emphasized the importance of the event in demonstrating that Russia remains a key player in global diplomacy and economic development.

Observers see the summit as part of the Kremlin’s broader strategy to cultivate support from the Global South and strengthen ties with nations seeking alternatives to the Western-led world order. One of the key initiatives being discussed is the creation of a new payment system that could replace the global bank messaging network SWIFT. Such a system would allow Moscow and its allies to continue trading despite Western sanctions, offering a lifeline to countries affected by economic restrictions.

Strengthening Key Alliances

On the sidelines of the summit, Putin is expected to hold around 20 bilateral meetings, including significant talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The close relationship between Putin and Xi was underlined at the summit. The two leaders, who have already met twice this year, announced a “no-limits” partnership just weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Their continued collaboration reinforces the deepening ties between Russia and China as they seek to counterbalance Western influence.

Russia’s relationship with India, another crucial BRICS member, has also flourished. Despite India’s close ties with the West and its rivalry with China, New Delhi maintains a strong partnership with Moscow, dating back to the Cold War era. Prime Minister Modi, during his meeting with Putin, emphasized the enduring friendship between the two countries and reaffirmed India’s push for a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine.

Although Western countries have urged India to take a more active role in persuading Russia to end the conflict, Modi has consistently avoided directly condemning Russia. Instead, he has focused on diplomacy, emphasizing peace while maintaining close economic ties with Moscow.

Expanding BRICS Influence and Future Prospects

The BRICS bloc’s rapid expansion is one of the summit’s most notable developments. The inclusion of countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, both with significant geopolitical influence, highlights the group’s increasing reach and ambition to form a counterbalance to Western-led institutions. With Turkey and several other nations eager to join, the BRICS alliance is poised to reshape global economic and political dynamics.

Looking ahead, the summit offers Putin and the BRICS leaders a platform to discuss further cooperation on energy, technology, and trade. In particular, the proposed payment system would provide an alternative means for BRICS countries to conduct business without relying on Western financial networks, effectively helping them sidestep sanctions.

Meeting with the UN Secretary-General

In addition to meetings with fellow BRICS leaders, Putin is set to meet with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday. This will mark Guterres’ first visit to Russia in more than two years. While Guterres has been openly critical of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, the meeting could provide an opportunity for dialogue on global conflict resolution and humanitarian efforts.

The BRICS summit underscores the shifting landscape of global power, as non-Western countries seek greater influence and autonomy in international affairs. For Putin, it is a chance to solidify alliances and demonstrate that Russia, far from being isolated, is forging a new path in global diplomacy.

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