Putin embraced Modi and fostered ties with Xi Jinping: Russian geopolitics at the BRICS summit.
On October 22, a BRICS summit commenced in Russia. A number of global leaders arrived in Kazan, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin seized the opportunity to engage warmly with them on camera. Russian propaganda particularly highlights that Putin's conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping lasted a full hour, though there were other meetings as well.
By gathering a diverse group of world leaders in the territory of the aggressor state, Putin aims to signal to the world that Russia is not isolated, despite Western efforts. Therefore, on the very first day of the summit, before the main events (October 23-24), the Kremlin host held as many meetings as possible.
Putin met with Dilma Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. He even embraced Narendra Modi.
"A friendship lasting a generation" between China and Russia
Putin welcomed Xi Jinping with a speech composed in heavy bureaucratic language. The speech was dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the USSR and China. The colleagues discussed the friendship between their countries that has endured for generations.
"Over the past 75 years, Russian-Chinese relations have reached the level of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction. We can confidently assert that they have become a model for how relations between states should be built in the modern world. Our multifaceted cooperation is characterized by equality, mutual benefit, and is entirely non-conjunctural," said Putin.
Xi Jinping reciprocated with an equally formal response.
"Both countries are committed to the spirit of eternal good neighborliness and friendship, comprehensive strategic interaction, and mutually beneficial cooperation, continually strengthening and expanding multifaceted strategic interaction and practical cooperation in all areas, thereby providing a strong impetus for national revival and modernization, and making a great contribution to the cause of welfare and the protection of international justice," emphasized the Chinese leader.
According to Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, the Russian leader and Xi discussed the situation in Ukraine, bilateral relations, the overall international situation, the BRICS agenda, and "outlined the main parameters for further contacts to continue the dialogue."
Modi offered his mediation for peace
On the first day of the summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the Russian president and called for peace. New Delhi is ready to help achieve a ceasefire to end "one of the deadliest conflicts in Europe since World War II," Reuters reports.
"We believe that problems should be resolved through peaceful means. And we fully support the swift restoration of peace and stability. In all our efforts, we prioritize humanity," Modi stated.
Since the humanitarian aspect plays an important role for India, it maintains contact with all parties and is ready to "provide any support" in the future to achieve an end to the war, said the Indian government head. Modi added that he intends to deepen the topic of peace negotiations regarding Ukraine during his future communications with Vladimir Putin.
BRICS participants agreed on "formulation regarding Ukraine," but did not show it to anyone
Representatives of the BRICS member countries agreed on a formulation regarding "the situation in Ukraine" for the declaration to be announced at the end of the summit in Kazan. This was reported by Yuri Ushakov, assistant to the president of Russia. However, no one has been informed about it yet.
"It (the formulation) does not raise any objections. The general position, the general approach that has been agreed upon for inclusion in the declaration," Ushakov said.
At the same time, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq explained to journalists why UN Secretary-General António Guterres decided to come to Russia. Within the framework of the BRICS summit in Kazan, he intends to reaffirm his position on the issue of resolving the war in Ukraine. His position, which Haq referred to as "well-known," will be articulated during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The representative of the secretary-general emphasized that the crisis must be resolved on three foundations: international law, as well as the UN charter and resolutions. Haq added that Guterres will continue to make efforts to restore safe navigation in the Black Sea.
It is worth noting that in April 2024, Guterres's representative, Stéphane Dujarric, stated that the UN Secretary-General wants to end the conflict in Ukraine on the basis of territorial integrity.
Russia and China want an "anti-Western" BRICS, India is against it
Russian President Putin's idea to transform the BRICS alliance into an anti-Western coalition that would undermine the "world order" and the dominance of the dollar (China also shares this alliance's vector) did not meet enthusiasm from key member countries of the bloc, according to reports citing Bloomberg.
It is noted that Indian officials familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that India does not wish to allow BRICS to become an "anti-American" organization dominated by Russia and China. For this reason, according to the agency's sources, New Delhi opposes further expansion of BRICS, which welcomed six new countries last year and has received requests from dozens more, including global pariahs like Myanmar and Afghanistan. Brazil and South Africa share India's position, as reported by Bloomberg officials from those countries.
The United Arab Emirates, which joined BRICS following the 2023 summit, also "completely rejects" attempts to portray membership in the bloc as a sign that the Global South opposes the West, a Bloomberg source reported. The UAE has very good relations with Western countries, including the USA, another official from the country emphasized.
Additionally, India and some other summit participants reject attempts to promote the Chinese yuan as an alternative reserve currency to the dollar. As Reuters reports, China and India, the main buyers of Russian oil after the price ceiling was imposed by the G7 countries, have complicated relations. Disagreements regarding the new system also exist between Arab countries and Iran.
Meanwhile, Russian media reported on October 22 that India is actually not opposed to further expansion of BRICS and such claims by Bloomberg are unfounded. This was stated by India's Deputy Foreign Minister Vikram Misri at a briefing in Kazan.
It is important to note that the name BRICS derives from the English initials of the founding countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Currently, it includes nine states - in January 2024, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates joined.
Collectively, the states within the bloc account for 45% of the world's population (approximately 3.5 billion people) and, according to the World Bank, about 28% of the global economy, which amounts to 28 trillion euros.
Pro-Russian BRICS significantly strengthened in 2024; the summit in Kazan is very solid
According to Tatarstan's Deputy Prime Minister Shamil Gafarov, representatives from 33 countries (according to other sources - 36) have confirmed their participation in the Russian BRICS summit, with 24 of them being represented by heads of state, and nine at the level of second and third persons. Kazan will also host six international organizations.
Among the participants are Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and the heads of Egypt, Iran, and the UAE. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Belarusian self-proclaimed President Alexander Lukashenko have also confirmed their participation. Naturally, Putin will be there. The head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, is also expected to attend. UN Secretary-General António Guterres will visit Kazan, which has drawn condemnation from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will not attend the Kazan summit due to a head injury he sustained from a fall in the bathtub. The presidents of Cuba and Serbia will also be absent. Miguel Díaz-Canel is addressing energy issues in his country (Cuba has been experiencing a complete blackout for nearly a week), while Aleksandar Vučić has "long-planned commitments."
The number of BRICS member countries has already increased from five to nine in 2024. However, the alliance will continue to expand. In June 2024, it became known that Turkey expressed its desire to join BRICS. According to the country's leadership, this would be a good alternative to EU membership, as Ankara has been unable to advance beyond candidate status since 1999. In August, Azerbaijan officially announced its desire to join BRICS.
Belarus, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka have also submitted applications. The same goes for