The upcoming BRICS summit is shaping up to be one of the most consequential gatherings of the year, drawing top leaders from across the globe against a backdrop of deepening geopolitical fractures and economic uncertainty. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres are among the prominent figures expected to attend the multilateral event this weekend.
Perhaps the most closely watched bilateral engagement is the anticipated meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sources indicate that the two leaders are likely to hold separate talks focusing on defence cooperation, energy partnerships, and wider strategic coordination. India and Russia have maintained a long-standing defence relationship, with Moscow remaining one of New Delhi's primary suppliers of military equipment. Given the ongoing war in Ukraine and the shifting global security architecture, analysts expect defence procurement, joint military exercises, and post-sanctions trade facilitation to feature prominently on the agenda.
The inclusion of UN Chief Guterres signals the growing importance BRICS places on engaging with multilateral institutions, even as the bloc continues to advocate for reforms in global governance bodies like the UN Security Council. Iranian President Pezeshkian's presence adds further weight to regional dynamics, as Tehran seeks to strengthen its ties with emerging economies amid prolonged Western sanctions.
The term "global crisis" referenced in preparations for the summit encompasses a range of interconnected challenges — the protracted Ukraine conflict, instability in the Middle East, food and energy price volatility, and growing concerns over de-dollarisation in international trade. BRICS nations have increasingly positioned themselves as an alternative centre of economic and political gravity, pushing for greater representation of the Global South in decision-making forums dominated by traditional Western powers.
India, which holds a pivotal role within the bloc, is expected to advocate for pragmatic cooperation on climate finance, digital public infrastructure, and supply chain resilience, while balancing its relationships with both BRICS partners and Western nations. The summit is also likely to produce joint communiqués and possibly new institutional announcements, though the extent of concrete outcomes will depend on how aligned the member states remain on key geopolitical issues.
