Russian President Vladimir Putin will host a high-profile summit in the city of Kazan, marking a critical moment in global geopolitics. He is set to meet with an array of world leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian, at a BRICS meeting, a forum designed to bring together emerging economies.
This summit, occurring on Tuesday, aims to underscore the bloc’s growing influence while counterbalancing the Western-dominated world order. Notably, the event serves as a strong symbol of Putin’s defiance against efforts to isolate Russia following its invasion of Ukraine and the international arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, BRICS has rapidly expanded this year, reflecting a desire from many nations to move away from a world order dominated by Western powers, particularly the United States. Recent additions to the bloc, including Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, demonstrate the growing appeal of this alternative alliance. Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia have also formally applied, while several other countries have expressed interest in joining.
Russian officials are heralding the summit as a resounding success even before it begins. Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy aide, reported that 32 countries had confirmed their participation, with more than 20 heads of state set to attend. According to Ushakov, Putin will hold approximately 20 bilateral meetings during the summit. This event, he suggested, could become the “largest foreign policy event ever held” on Russian soil, showcasing Russia’s enduring importance on the world stage despite Western efforts to sideline it.
For the Kremlin, the BRICS summit in Kazan is more than just a diplomatic spectacle. It offers a unique opportunity for Russia to negotiate concrete deals that could help bolster its economy, particularly as it continues its war effort in Ukraine. With sanctions from the West taking a toll on the Russian economy, Moscow is looking to expand trade with key partners like China and India, bypassing restrictions imposed by Western nations.
According to Alexander Gabuyev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, the Kremlin is keen on showcasing its ability to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its global allies. “The beauty of BRICS is that it doesn’t put too many obligations on you,” Gabuyev noted, highlighting the bloc’s flexibility and minimal commitments compared to Western alliances like NATO. “There are not that many strings attached, really, to being part of BRICS. And at the same time, there might be interesting opportunities coming your way, including just having more face time with all of these leaders.”
On a personal level, Putin views the summit as a critical demonstration of his continued relevance on the global stage. Gabuyev argued that for Putin, the gathering serves as proof that Western attempts to isolate Russia have failed. Domestically and internationally, Putin can point to the summit as evidence that Russia remains a key player in shaping the future of global governance.
One of Russia’s key objectives at the summit is to deepen economic and strategic partnerships with two of its most important allies, China and India. China, in particular, is crucial for Russia as it provides Moscow with access to dual-use goods that have both civilian and military applications, despite Western sanctions. Meanwhile, India is a significant market for Russian energy resources, a vital lifeline for Moscow’s economy in the face of sanctions from the U.S. and Europe.
In addition to trade, Russia is exploring alternatives to the global financial system that would allow it to bypass Western sanctions altogether. One of the most ambitious projects being discussed within the BRICS framework is the development of a new payment system to replace SWIFT, the global financial messaging network. The proposed system would enable BRICS members to conduct trade without worrying about Western sanctions.
Gabuyev explained that Russia hopes to bring together key global players like China, India, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia, to create a platform that would be difficult for the U.S. to sanction. “If you create a platform where there is China, Russia, India, and Brazil and Saudi Arabia, many countries that are vital partners for the U.S., the U.S. will not be ready to go after this platform and sanction it,” Gabuyev said, highlighting the strategic value of such an alliance.
The summit is also expected to strengthen Russia’s growing alliance with Iran. Following the invasion of Ukraine, Tehran has become a critical partner for Moscow, providing hundreds of drones that Russia has used in its military operations. These drones have played a crucial role in Russia’s ability to strike Ukrainian infrastructure with long-range attacks, though both Russia and Iran have officially denied such transfers.
Russia, in return, is expected to provide Iran with advanced military technology, including long-range air defense systems and fighter jets. Such equipment could prove critical for Iran as it faces the possibility of military confrontation with Israel. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, refused to comment on whether a formal mutual defense pact would be part of a “comprehensive strategic partnership” treaty that the two nations are expected to sign during the summit.
For China, the BRICS summit is a key part of its broader strategy to promote a multipolar world order that challenges the dominance of the U.S. and its allies. Along with BRICS, China is also a leading player in other multilateral organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which focuses on regional security issues.
Xi Jinping has been a vocal advocate for enlarging BRICS, and the summit in Kazan will help cement Beijing’s role as a leading force within the expanded bloc. According to Willy Lam, a senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation, China and Russia are also exploring ways to develop an international trading currency that could challenge what Beijing and Moscow see as the “dollar hegemony.”
The Kazan summit also offers Xi and Putin another opportunity to display their close personal and political relationship. The two leaders have met several times since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including at the SCO summit in Kazakhstan in July and a bilateral meeting in Beijing in May. Although Xi has supported Russia economically and diplomatically, experts are watching closely for any signs that Beijing is distancing itself from Moscow over the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Eva Seiwert, a foreign policy expert at the Mercator Institute for China Studies, believes that while Putin will want to showcase the strength of the China-Russia relationship, Xi may use the summit to signal a more nuanced position. “Xi may also want to signal to Western states and others that Beijing officially remains ‘neutral’ in Russia’s war in Ukraine and is not a formal ally of Moscow,” Seiwert said. “This will be crucial for conveying the image of China as a serious and legitimate peacemaker in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.”
India’s participation in the summit underscores its delicate balancing act between its longstanding partnership with Russia and its growing ties with the West. While India has refrained from condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, it has also emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. New Delhi’s strategic interests, including defense cooperation and energy security, are deeply intertwined with Moscow, making it difficult for India to align fully with the West on the issue of Ukraine.
Raja Mohan, a professor at the Institute of South Asian Studies in Singapore, noted that “India can’t simply abandon Russia because of its deep defense ties, the question of the regional balance of power, and the logic of multi-alignment.” At the same time, India is also keen to deepen its relationships with the U.S. and other Western nations to fuel its economic and technological growth.
Turkey, another key participant, is similarly navigating a complex relationship with the West. As a NATO member and a candidate for European Union membership, Turkey’s ties with the U.S. and Europe have been strained over issues such as human rights and its procurement of Russian missile systems. Erdogan’s interest in joining BRICS reflects his desire to strengthen Turkey’s hand in global diplomacy by positioning the country as a bridge between the West and emerging powers in the East.
According to Gonul Tol of the Middle East Institute, middle powers like Turkey “try to extract more from both camps by being in-between camps, by having one foot in each camp.” Membership in BRICS could provide Erdogan with additional leverage as Turkey seeks to assert its independence from the West.
As the BRICS summit approaches, it is clear that the event represents more than just a gathering of emerging economies. For Putin, it is a chance to show the world that Russia remains a formidable player, despite Western sanctions and isolation efforts. For the other participants, it is an opportunity to shape a new world order that challenges Western dominance, while pursuing their own strategic interests. As these leaders convene in Kazan, the decisions made and alliances forged could have profound implications for the future of global power dynamics.
