Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to host the 16th annual BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, gathering leaders like Xi Jinping of China, Narendra Modi of India, Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, and Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran.
Despite Western attempts to isolate Putin over the Ukraine conflict, this summit aims to highlight BRICS as a counterbalance to Western dominance in global politics and trade. The coalition, representing significant emerging economies, continues to expand with the inclusion of new members like Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
The BRICS bloc, established in 2006 (BRIC), later included South Africa in 2010, forming BRICS. It challenges Western-led institutions like the IMF and the World Bank by promoting alternative financial and economic systems.
Russian officials view the summit as a major foreign policy achievement, with 32 countries confirmed and over 20 heads of state in attendance. Putin plans around 20 bilateral meetings during the summit.
This year’s event also opens the door for further expansion, with countries like Azerbaijan, Belarus, Turkey, and Mongolia exploring membership. Analysts believe this summit underscores the failure of Western isolation efforts, strengthens Russia’s international alliances, and presents opportunities to bolster its economy amid ongoing sanctions.