BRICS: Xi, Putin, and Pezeshkian expected in New Delhi on September 12 and 13

India will host the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Masoud Pezeshkian are expected to attend a meeting where differences between Iran and the United Arab Emirates complicate the search for a common position.

The summit comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. According to Reuters, the war involving Iran has disrupted traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and pushed oil prices above $100 per barrel. The United Arab Emirates, also a BRICS member, suspended its trade and financial exchanges with Tehran in August after being targeted by Iranian missiles.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Thursday, September 10, that India is “ready” for the meeting. The group, originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and later South Africa, has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.

Xi Jinping will make his first visit to India in seven years on this occasion. Also expected are South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The United Arab Emirates will be represented by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Negotiating a joint statement

One of the main issues will be the formulation of a joint statement on international crises. In May, BRICS foreign ministers meeting in New Delhi failed to adopt a common text, particularly due to differences between Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

Indian diplomacy also hopes to use the summit to facilitate bilateral meetings. Narendra Modi is expected to meet with Vladimir Putin, while a meeting with Xi Jinping is anticipated on the sidelines of the proceedings. These discussions are expected to focus on economic relations, security issues, and regional tensions.

The economic agenda also includes ways to facilitate cross-border payments among member countries. India is particularly pushing to connect central bank digital currencies, a proposal that is set to be discussed during the leaders’ meeting despite technical and political obstacles.

In New Delhi, authorities have ramped up security measures around foreign delegations. According to The Indian Express, approximately 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel are deployed for the summit, particularly around the airport, hotels, and Bharat Mandapam.