At the BRICS meeting in Kazan, which was attended by leaders from 32 countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted Russia’s strategic partnerships with China and India. Despite international concerns, both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized strengthening relations with Russia. Putin used the occasion to reaffirm his position on the global stage and highlight the growing BRICS alliance.
Russian President Putin seen sitting in between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping at the gala dinner hosted of leaders of #BRICSSummit
🇨🇳 🇷🇺 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/2W5MjAbT7f— Abhishek Jha (@abhishekjha157) October 22, 2024
Putin took use of this opportunity to emphasize the expanding BRICS alliance and solidify his place on the international scene. Russia’s determination to change the world order and thwart Western attempts to isolate the Kremlin over the conflict is evident in the summit, which was attended by leaders from 32 nations, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Russia’s Expanding Ties with China and India
Both Xi and Modi stressed bolstering ties with Russia during bilateral discussions. Xi reiterated the “deep friendship” between China and Russia during their talks, stressing that it is unaffected by the “chaos” in the world. Similar remarks were made by Modi, who said that his recent trips to Russia highlight the “close and deepening” ties. Despite growing geopolitical tensions, these declarations show the countries’ growing collaboration.
In response, Putin emphasized the strategic alliance with India and referred to his connection with Xi as that of “dear friends.” Both presidents hailed Moscow’s expanding collaboration with their countries, with Modi emphasizing the role of Russia in India’s diplomatic and economic plans and Xi describing it as “wide-ranging.”
Strategic Alliances Amid Ukraine War
Since the two nations announced a “no-limits friendship” just weeks prior to the invasion of Ukraine, China and Russia’s relationship has changed. Since Xi took office in 2012, they have met more than 40 times, including this year in Beijing and Kazakhstan at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit. These regular interactions show how committed both nations are to thwarting American influence, especially in light of the turmoil in Ukraine.
Beijing’s position on the conflict is still nuanced, though. Although China portrays itself as an impartial party that can mediate disputes, the United States and its European allies accuse Beijing of providing financial support to Russia throughout the crisis. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Xi and Putin discussed Ukraine extensively during their meeting.