New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made headlines at the latest BRICS summit with a series of photographic moments that quickly spread across media platforms and social networks. In one particularly noted image, Modi was seen holding hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, standing shoulder to shoulder in a pose that diplomatic observers described as a carefully orchestrated display of multilateral camaraderie.
The photograph, taken during a group session at the summit, showed all three leaders locked in a handshake formation, a visual that carried weight given the complex trilateral relationship between India, China, and Russia. Both New Delhi and Beijing have maintained military standoffs along their disputed border since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020, while India's defence ties with Russia remain deep despite growing pressure from Western nations to reduce dependence on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.
Also featured in the summit photographs were Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Indonesian Prime Minister Prabowo Subianto, whose presence reflected the expanding membership and broader representation within the BRICS grouping. Indonesia joined BRICS as a new member in 2024, while Iran has been an active participant in recent proceedings.
Analysts noted that while the hand-holding gesture may appear merely ceremonial, it symbolises the delicate diplomatic position India occupies on the world stage. New Delhi has consistently pursued a multi-aligned foreign policy, maintaining strong strategic partnerships with Washington and the European Union while preserving longstanding defence and energy relationships with Russia, and engaging constructively with China on multilateral platforms despite bilateral tensions.
The BRICS bloc, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has grown into a significant economic and political force representing a substantial share of global GDP and population. The summit provided further opportunities for India to project itself as a voice of the Global South while navigating the competing interests of major powers.
