Putin, Pezeshkian in India for BRICS summit clouded by Iran and Ukraine war - Al Jazeera

**BRICS Summit in New Delhi Draws Global Spotlight Amid Ongoing Conflicts** Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Pezeshkian on the opening day of the BRICS leaders’ summit in New Delhi, a gathering that comes at a fraught moment for the bloc. While India emphasized its “peace‑first” agenda, Modi reiterated calls for diplomatic solutions to both the war in Ukraine and the simmering tensions with Iran, signaling New Delhi’s desire to act as a mediator rather than a partisan actor. The presence of Putin and Pezeshkian, however, underscored the summit’s delicate balance, as both Russia and Iran remain under heavy sanctions and diplomatic scrutiny from the West.

During a joint press briefing, Putin highlighted that BRICS economies now account for roughly **40 % of global GDP**, a figure he used to contrast the bloc’s “contribution to world prosperity” with what he described as the G7’s “limited impact.” He warned that the G7’s policies have “created a fragmented world” and asserted that BRICS is ready to enhance global energy and food security, positioning the alliance as a counterweight to Western‑led supply chains. Pezeshkian echoed these themes, urging greater economic cooperation among member states and stressing that Iran’s integration into BRICS could help mitigate the effects of sanctions that have constrained its oil exports.

Analysts note that the summit’s agenda will inevitably be colored by the parallel crises in Ukraine and the Middle East. While BRICS leaders are expected to discuss coordinated responses to sanctions, energy shortages, and food insecurity, the shadow of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Iran’s nuclear negotiations looms large. Observers from Al Jazeera and regional outlets stress that the summit’s success will hinge on whether the group can translate its economic heft into constructive diplomatic initiatives, or whether geopolitical rivalries will continue to divide the international community.