Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping Likely to Attend BRICS Summit in New Delhi in September

Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping Likely to Attend BRICS Summit 

New Delhi is preparing for a potentially significant diplomatic moment this September, as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are likely to attend the BRICS summit in the Indian capital. According to reports, the Russian and Chinese sides have conveyed to New Delhi that both leaders are expected to come for the summit, which India will host on September 12 and 13 as the current BRICS chair.

Putin’s attendance has already been confirmed by Kremlin aide for international affairs Yury Ushakov, who said the Russian president will take part in the BRICS summit in New Delhi. If Xi’s visit is also confirmed, it would mark his first trip to India since October 2019, when he visited Mamallapuram near Chennai for the second informal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is a big deal diplomatically because it places India at the center of a major global platform at a time when BRICS is attracting growing attention. Yeh development kaafi important hai because it could shape how India engages with both Russia and China on the world stage.

Why the Visit Matters

The likely presence of Putin and Xi at the BRICS summit is important for both symbolic and practical reasons. Symbolically, it shows that India’s chairmanship of BRICS is drawing the attention of two of the bloc’s most influential leaders. Practically, it gives India a high-profile opportunity to host discussions on trade, development, global governance, and economic cooperation. MINT has covered the full story.

BRICS has expanded in visibility and significance over the years, and a summit in New Delhi with both Putin and Xi in attendance would underline the grouping’s continued relevance. For India, this is also an opportunity to project itself as a major diplomatic host capable of managing complex relationships. The optics matter, but so do the conversations behind closed doors. If all three leaders are in the same city, it opens the door to bilateral interactions on the sidelines, which can be just as important as the summit itself.

Putin’s Attendance Confirmed

Russian officials have already confirmed Putin’s participation. Yury Ushakov, Kremlin aide for international affairs, was quoted by the state-run TASS agency as saying that the Russian president will attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. That confirmation reduces uncertainty around one of the summit’s biggest expected guests and gives the event a stronger international profile.

Putin’s travel schedule also includes the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 31 and September 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to attend the SCO summit, which could create another opportunity for India-Russia engagement ahead of the BRICS meeting. That sequence is notable because it suggests a busy diplomatic calendar for India in late summer and early autumn.

Xi’s Possible Visit and the India-China Angle

Xi Jinping’s possible visit to New Delhi is perhaps the most closely watched aspect of the story. If confirmed, it would be his first trip to India since 2019, when he visited Mamallapuram for the informal summit with Modi. That meeting was seen at the time as an attempt to steady ties and create space for dialogue between the two neighbors.

Since then, India-China relations have gone through significant strain. The border standoff in 2020 badly affected ties and triggered a period of tension, distrust, and reduced political warmth. However, there has been some movement toward improvement since then. In October 2024, Modi and Xi met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, and before that meeting, the two sides reportedly decided to complete disengagement of troops at the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.

If Xi comes to New Delhi, the visit will be closely read not only in India but also across Asia and beyond. It would signal that both sides are still interested in keeping diplomatic channels open, even if major strategic differences remain unresolved. In simple words, this won’t be yeh sirf ek summit trip — it could be a signal of how India and China want to manage a complicated relationship without letting it collapse further.

Background

BRICS has evolved from a mainly economic grouping into a broader platform for geopolitical and development discussions. India’s role as chair gives it a chance to shape the agenda and project itself as a bridge between major powers. Hosting Putin and possibly Xi in New Delhi would be one of the most visible outcomes of that responsibility.

India-China relations remain one of the key strategic issues in the region. The 2020 border standoff changed the tone of the relationship sharply, but recent meetings indicate that both sides have recognized the need for managed engagement. Russia, meanwhile, remains an important strategic partner for India, especially in energy, defense, and diplomatic coordination in multilateral forums. So the summit is not just about BRICS. It is about India’s place in a shifting global order, where old partnerships and tensions continue to overlap.

Timeline

• October 2019: Xi Jinping last visits India for the Mamallapuram informal summit.

• April-May 2020: India-China ties worsen after the border standoff.

• October 2024: Modi and Xi meet in Kazan on the sidelines of the BRICS summit and agree on troop disengagement steps in eastern Ladakh.

• August 31-September 1, 2026: Putin is scheduled to attend the SCO summit in Bishkek.

• September 12-13, 2026: New Delhi hosts the BRICS summit, with Putin’s attendance confirmed and Xi’s visit likely.

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Why This Matters

This matters because it places India at the center of major diplomatic activity involving two of the world’s most consequential leaders. For the Indian government, hosting the BRICS summit is a chance to show organizational strength and diplomatic confidence. For the public, it is a reminder that foreign policy is not just about statements and headlines; it affects trade, security, regional balance, and India’s global image.

It also matters because India-China ties still shape economic and strategic calculations in Asia. Any visible engagement between Modi and Xi, even if brief, will attract global attention. The same applies to India-Russia ties, especially at a time when geopolitical realignments remain intense. This is the kind of event that can influence market sentiment, strategic commentary, and media narratives well beyond the summit hall. Yeh issue kaafi important hai because it involves diplomacy, power balance, and India’s positioning in the world.

India Angle

For Indian readers, this story has strong relevance because it puts New Delhi in the global spotlight. India hosting BRICS means the capital could become the site of a major international diplomatic gathering, with world leaders arriving for high-level talks. That is important not just for foreign policy watchers but also for businesses, analysts, and ordinary citizens who follow India’s growing global role.

There is also a domestic angle. A successful BRICS summit can boost India’s image as a reliable organizer and a serious geopolitical player. It can also strengthen the government’s argument that India is increasingly central to major global discussions. In Hinglish terms, yeh India ke liye ek big stage moment ho sakta hai—ek aisa moment jahan diplomacy aur global respect dono dikh sakte hain.

Analysis

My view is that the significance of this story lies less in the formal summit and more in the possible sideline diplomacy. Putin’s confirmed presence guarantees Russian engagement, but Xi’s visit, if it happens, could be the real headline-maker because of its rarity and symbolic value. For India, this is a moment to project confidence without overstating outcomes. The diplomacy may be cautious, but the optics would still be powerful. At the same time, readers should keep expectations realistic: summit attendance does not automatically mean breakthrough agreements. Still, meetings like this matter because they keep communication channels alive and signal that India remains relevant in the global conversation.

What’s Next?

The next step will be official confirmation of Xi Jinping’s attendance and the final logistical planning for the summit. Once that is done, the focus will likely shift to agenda-setting, bilateral meeting possibilities, and the security arrangements required for such a high-profile event in New Delhi.

If Xi does come, the summit could become a major moment for India-China engagement, even if only at a diplomatic level. If he does not, the summit will still be important because Putin’s presence alone ensures strong international interest. In both cases, India will want to present the event as a success, with smooth organization and meaningful dialogue. The months ahead will also show whether any preparatory contacts between India, Russia, and China lead to tangible outcomes or remain largely symbolic.

Conclusion

The likely attendance of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit in New Delhi gives India a major diplomatic opportunity this September. Putin’s visit is confirmed, while Xi’s possible presence would mark his first trip to India since 2019 and add serious weight to the summit.

For India, the event is about much more than hosting an international meeting. It is about projecting influence, managing difficult relationships, and showing that New Delhi can serve as a platform for global dialogue. Whether or not the summit produces dramatic breakthroughs, it is already shaping up to be one of the most closely watched diplomatic events of the year.

Written By A. Jack