Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting a significant summit this week, signaling that the West cannot sideline Russia on the global stage. He will meet with key global leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian, despite ongoing tensions related to the Ukraine war and Putin's international arrest warrant.
The summit, set in the Russian city of Kazan, will gather leaders from the BRICS bloc, which originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa but has rapidly expanded. New members such as Iran, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, along with aspiring candidates like Turkey and Malaysia, are joining the coalition that aims to counterbalance the Western-led global order.
Russian officials are already touting the summit as a major success, with 36 countries confirming their participation and over 20 heads of state expected to attend. Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, noted that the summit could be the largest foreign policy event held on Russian soil. Putin himself will conduct around 20 bilateral meetings during the summit.
On the sidelines of the event, Putin will meet with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, marking Guterres' first visit to Russia in over two years. Guterres has frequently criticized Russia’s war in Ukraine, adding a layer of intrigue to their upcoming discussion.
For the Kremlin, this summit is not just about the optics of standing united with global allies but also about negotiating strategic deals to bolster Russia’s economy and support its war efforts. Leaders like Modi, Erdogan, and Xi aim to promote their own interests, taking advantage of BRICS' loose obligations and potential economic benefits.
According to analysts, Putin views the summit as a personal victory, demonstrating the failure of Western isolation efforts. It will give Russia an opportunity to deepen trade ties with countries like China and India, circumventing Western sanctions, and push for a new payment system that would reduce reliance on the U.S.-dominated SWIFT network.
In addition to economic discussions, Putin is expected to sign a strategic partnership treaty with Iran, reflecting Moscow's growing ties with Tehran, which has been a key military supplier for Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. Iran, in return, is seeking advanced Russian military technology to bolster its defense capabilities.
China, for its part, is keen to strengthen its influence through BRICS and other international forums, working alongside Russia to challenge U.S. dominance, particularly in trade and currency systems. Though Xi and Putin will project a united front, experts suggest Xi may subtly distance himself from Russia’s Ukraine war to maintain China’s image as a neutral party and potential peace broker.
India’s Modi, meanwhile, is balancing its long-standing defense ties with Russia and its growing relationships with Western powers. Though India has refrained from condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine, it faces increasing pressure to take a stronger stance.
Turkey, another key player, is eyeing BRICS membership as its relations with the West remain strained, particularly with the U.S. Erdogan hopes joining the bloc will strengthen Turkey’s position on the global stage as it navigates tensions with NATO and the European Union.
For all these leaders, the Kazan summit is a chance to reshape global dynamics, emphasizing multi-polarity and diminishing Western influence, while simultaneously securing their own national interests.
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