Russia’s Putin welcomes 36 world leaders to BRICS summit amid global power shift

One key uncertainty was whether UN Secretary General António Guterres would attend. While Russia claimed he would, his spokesperson offered no definitive confirmation. Guterres’ attendance could be seen as defying the West, especially given the ICC’s warrant for Putin’s arrest over the abduction of Ukrainian children.

The summit is the largest international event Putin has hosted since launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Xi Jinping, China’s president, addressed Putin as a “dear friend” and emphasised the close ties between China and Russia.

PM Narendra Modi, reiterated his wish for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict, while South African President Cyril Ramaphosa praised Russia as a “valued ally” from the time of South Africa’s struggle against apartheid.

BRICS, originally composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has now expanded to include other nations such as Egypt, the UAE, and Iran. New applicants, like Turkey and Saudi Arabia, signal further growth, but the expansion risks diluting the group’s ideological cohesion.

While nations like Brazil seek to avoid anti-Western positions, countries such as China and Russia push for greater autonomy from Western-dominated economic systems.

Putin’s rhetoric throughout the summit suggested a desire to build a new global order, with Russia positioning itself as a key player. Meanwhile, the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine could hinge on forthcoming geopolitical shifts, such as the outcome of the US presidential election.

(with inputs from The Guardian)