BRICS Summit Highlights Putin’s Global Coalition Amid Geopolitical Tensions

Feature and Cover BRICS Summit Highlights Putin’s Global Coalition Amid Geopolitical Tensions

Nearly three years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which resulted in widespread condemnation of Moscow by countries around the world, Russian leader Vladimir Putin is hosting a summit that signals a shift in global alliances. This event marks the rise of an emerging coalition of countries that, contrary to popular belief, stand behind Russia.

The BRICS summit, a gathering of significant emerging economies—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—began in the southwestern Russian city of Kazan on Tuesday. This is the first meeting since the group expanded earlier this year, bringing in Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Iran. The three-day summit is expected to be one of the most significant international gatherings Russia has hosted since the war in Ukraine began.

On the summit’s first day, Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, afterward describing their partnership as a “model of how relations between states should be built.” Other notable attendees include Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian official Masoud Pezeshkian, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also expected to attend, while Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva canceled his participation due to an injury.

This summit offers Putin an opportunity to demonstrate that Russia is not isolated, but rather a part of a growing group of nations looking to shift the global balance of power. For countries like Russia, China, and Iran, this summit presents a chance to counter the influence of the United States and the West.

Both Putin and Xi are expected to project a message that the West, with its sanctions and alliances, is the party that is truly isolated. They plan to emphasize that a “global majority” stands behind them in challenging American dominance. Putin even stated on Friday that the growing political and economic power of BRICS nations is an “undeniable fact,” and added that if BRICS and interested countries work together, they “will be a substantial element of the new world order.” However, Putin denied that BRICS is an “anti-Western alliance.”

The timing of the summit is especially significant, coming just days before the U.S. elections. A potential victory for former President Donald Trump could bring changes to U.S. policy, including a reduction in support for Ukraine, which would further alter the global dynamics.

Alex Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin, noted that this summit is a major win for Putin. “The message will be: how can you talk about Russia’s global isolation when all these leaders are coming to Kazan?” Gabuev said. According to him, Russia aims to present BRICS as a leading force in driving the world toward a more equitable global order.

However, the unity Putin might hope for among these leaders is limited. BRICS countries have diverse viewpoints and interests, making it difficult for the group to present a unified message, especially one that would align with Putin’s desires.

The contrasts at this year’s gathering are stark, especially compared to last year’s BRICS summit in Johannesburg, where Putin was only able to attend via video link due to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes related to Ukraine. Now, Putin is at the helm of the first BRICS summit since the group’s expansion, hosting leaders against a backdrop of shifting global crises.

Although BRICS is primarily focused on economic collaboration, the war in Ukraine dominated last year’s summit. This year, that conflict remains, but leaders are also expected to address the escalating situation in the Middle East, where Israel is engaged in battles with Iranian proxies. Putin has confirmed that Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will join the summit, and the Russian president is likely to use the anger many in the Global South feel toward the U.S. for its support of Israel to further his argument for a new global order without the U.S. in control.

Both Russia and China have called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, while the U.S. has defended Israel’s right to retaliate against militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Many BRICS leaders view the situation in the Middle East as an example of why their group should have more global influence, according to Jonathan Fulton, a senior non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council. However, Fulton noted that these leaders are using the conflict more as a way to criticize the status quo rather than taking action to resolve it.

Observers will also be watching to see if China and Brazil use the summit to promote their joint peace proposal for the war in Ukraine, as they did at the recent United Nations General Assembly. At that time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized their plan, saying it would benefit Moscow and telling Beijing and Brasilia, “you will not boost your power at Ukraine’s expense.”

The upcoming U.S. elections and the challenges Zelensky faces in promoting his own plan to end the war have created an opportunity for China to further its position on Ukraine, according to Gabuev.

The summit will also give Putin the chance for one-on-one meetings with fellow BRICS leaders and other dignitaries in attendance. Iran’s recent inclusion in BRICS strengthens Russia’s relationship with Tehran, which has reportedly supplied Moscow with drones and short-range ballistic missiles for use in the war, though Iran denies this. Meanwhile, China has been accused of indirectly supporting Russia’s war effort by providing dual-use goods like machine tools and microelectronics, claims that Beijing denies, maintaining that its trade with Russia is normal and that it is neutral in the conflict.

Leaders at the summit are expected to discuss efforts to establish a system for settling payments outside of the U.S. dollar-based system, using BRICS currencies and banking networks. This move could provide economic benefits but also help member countries like Russia bypass Western sanctions. The leaders are also likely to discuss cooperation in areas such as energy, technology, and satellite data sharing.

However, despite these goals, the divisions among BRICS countries remain a challenge. The group has always been an amalgamation of countries with different political and economic systems, which complicates its ability to act as a unified bloc.

The first BRICS summit in 2009 brought together Brazil, Russia, India, and China as emerging markets before expanding to include South Africa. The group launched the New Development Bank in 2015 to act as a counterpart to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. While BRICS has focused on increasing its global influence, internal differences continue to limit its potential.

India and China, for instance, have long-standing tensions over their border, yet they form two critical pillars of BRICS. These divisions have become more apparent as relations between the U.S. and China have grown strained, while India has moved closer to the U.S.

As BRICS expands and more than 30 additional countries express interest in joining or cooperating with the group, these geopolitical tensions further complicate its direction. Manoj Kewalramani, head of Indo-Pacific studies at the Takshashila Institution in India, noted that China and Russia have attempted to reposition BRICS as a counterbalance to Western dominance, but new and aspiring members may not want to choose sides. Instead, they are looking to grow their economies and engage with the world pragmatically, rather than ideologically.

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