Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in New Delhi to attend BRICS summit

The arrival of Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi for the BRICS summit marks a pivotal moment in contemporary geopolitics, reflecting the growing assertiveness of the Global South in reshaping international governance structures. BRICS — an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — was formally established in 2009 (with South Africa joining in 2010) as a platform for major emerging economies to coordinate on economic, political, and strategic issues. The 2024 summit in New Delhi comes at a time of profound global instability, with the Russia-Ukraine war entering its third year, the West Asia crisis escalating following the October 2023 Hamas-Israel conflict, and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies — threatening energy security worldwide. Compounding these challenges are the protectionist trade policies of the Trump administration, including sweeping tariffs on allies and adversaries alike, which have disrupted global supply chains and undermined the rules-based trading system anchored by the WTO. India’s hosting of this summit underscores its unique diplomatic positioning as a "bridge" between competing power blocs. As a founding member of BRICS and a strategic partner of both Russia and the West, India has consistently advocated for multipolarity, strategic autonomy, and reform of global institutions like the UN Security Council — a stance rooted in Article 51 of the Indian Constitution, which directs the state to promote international peace and security, and Article 253, empowering Parliament to implement international treaties. India’s refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the UN, while calling for dialogue and diplomacy, exemplifies this balancing act. Simultaneously, India has deepened defence and energy ties with Russia — importing discounted crude oil and the S-400 missile system — while advancing the Quad partnership with the US, Japan, and Australia. The Strait of Hormuz blockade, reportedly enforced by Iran-backed forces, has direct implications for India, which imports over 85% of its crude oil, much of it transiting through this strait. Any disruption spikes inflation, widens the current account deficit, and pressures the rupee — issues monitored closely by the RBI under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999. Meanwhile, Trump-era tariffs on steel, aluminium, and other goods have hurt Indian exports, prompting New Delhi to accelerate negotiations for a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) and explore rupee-denominated trade with partners like Russia and the UAE. For India, the BRICS summit is not merely symbolic. It advances the bloc’s de-dollarisation agenda — promoting local currency trade, a New Development Bank (NDB) alternative to the IMF/World Bank, and a potential BRICS currency. India, as the current chair of the G20 (2023) and a leading voice in the Global South, leverages BRICS to amplify demands for climate finance, technology transfer, and UNSC reform. The inclusion of new members — Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, and Saudi Arabia (invited in 2023) — expands BRICS’ demographic and economic weight to over 45% of the world’s population and 36% of GDP (PPP), challenging Western-dominated forums. Looking ahead, the summit’s outcomes will test BRICS’ cohesion amid Sino-Indian border tensions (since the 2020 Galwan clash) and divergent views on Russia’s war. For aspirants, this event encapsulates key themes: India’s foreign policy evolution from non-alignment to multi-alignment, the geopolitics of energy, the future of multilateralism, and constitutional mandates guiding external affairs. The next decade will likely see BRICS evolve into a more institutionalised counterweight to the G7 — making this summit a landmark in the transition toward a multipolar world order.