Putin arrives in New Delhi for BRICS summit as Iran and Ukraine wars expose bloc’s fractures

Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in New Delhi on Friday, September 11, ahead of the two-day BRICS Leaders’ Summit that begins on Saturday, but the red carpet laid out for the gathering has been overshadowed by two conflicts that are tearing at the bloc’s internal cohesion: the US-led war on Iran and Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Putin’s arrival at Palam Air Force Station was greeted by India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, according to Russian state news agency Ria Novosti. He is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian; Chinese President Xi Jinping, also in New Delhi, is expected to meet Modi on the sidelines. The summit – which brings together Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and newer members Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia – was originally conceived as a forum for major emerging economies seeking to challenge Western-dominated institutions. But as the bloc approaches its 20th anniversary, the wars have exposed fault lines that limit collective action.

New Delhi has rolled out heavy security, with posters of a beaming Modi lining the streets and widespread traffic restrictions in central districts. But the red carpet has sparked anger among residents, who face blocked roads, evictions for security zones, and other restrictions. The Delhi police have appealed for patience, but local frustration underscores the cost of hosting such a high-profile gathering at a time when the host government is trying to balance ties with Russia, Iran and Western powers. Source: Al Jazeera video report

The most immediate fracture within BRICS is the war on Iran that began in February 2026, when the United States and Israel launched attacks. Iran joined BRICS in 2024, the same year as the United Arab Emirates, and the two members are now on opposing sides of the conflict. “The Gulf conflict is going to be the central fault line this time during the BRICS summit,” Harsh V Pant of the Observer Research Foundation told AFP, as reported by Al Jazeera. Tehran accuses Abu Dhabi of supporting the US–Israeli campaign, while the UAE has condemned Iran’s retaliatory strikes. The summit will be a third attempt by BRICS members to find consensus on the war; previous efforts have failed. Source: Al Jazeera news report

Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine adds another layer of tension. While most BRICS members have not imposed sanctions on Moscow, India has maintained its traditional balancing act, buying Russian oil while deepening defence ties with the West. Modi’s meeting with Putin will be closely watched for any shift in India’s stance, especially after Western pressure to isolate Russia. Similarly, Modi’s expected meeting with Xi comes at a time of lingering border tensions in the Himalayas, though both sides have sought to stabilise the front.

Analysts remain divided on whether BRICS has truly challenged the Western-led order. The bloc has created platforms outside the dollar-dominated financial system and given Global South countries greater bargaining power. But, as Al Jazeera notes, “the dollar remains dominant, and divisions limit collective action on foreign policy and security.” Some experts argue that BRICS’ success should be measured not by whether it can replace Western institutions, but by whether it makes Western dominance harder to exercise. Source: Al Jazeera analysis

For a European audience following the war in Ukraine, the summit matters because it will test whether India and other BRICS members can still keep lines open to Putin while the Kremlin continues its assault. Any joint statement that softens language on Ukraine or fails to mention Iran’s position could signal a bloc unwilling to confront Moscow over its aggression. The outcome of the bilateral talks – especially between Modi and Putin – will be the clearest indicator of whether India’s careful diplomacy can hold, or whether the wars are pulling the BRICS members further apart.