Putin Hosts BRICS Summit to Strengthen Alliances, Challenge Western Influence

Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting a BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan, bringing together leaders from emerging economies such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with new participants from Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE.

Putin seeks to use this meeting to present Russia as a powerful global player and counterbalance Western influence, especially in the wake of the 2022 sanctions imposed after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.

The BRICS group now represents nearly half of the world’s population and over 35% of global economic output, a significant figure that underscores the collective economic might of its members. Putin aims to use this alliance to challenge the West’s dominance in global affairs and highlight Russia’s continued relevance, despite diplomatic isolation and economic sanctions from Western countries. The summit comes at a time when Russia is looking to bolster relationships with non-Western countries and demonstrate that it has powerful allies.

This year’s summit also marks the first time that the group includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE, signaling BRICS’ ambitions to expand further. China, the largest economy in the group, plays a key role in attracting new members and driving investments. Both Beijing and Moscow have advocated for a reformation of the global financial system, proposing alternatives to Western institutions like the International Monetary Fund.

The summit is particularly important for Putin, who missed last year’s meeting due to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. This time, he is expected to hold numerous bilateral meetings and strengthen ties with leaders from across the Global South. Despite his efforts to position BRICS as an anti-Western coalition, internal challenges remain. Nations like India, Brazil, and South Africa are wary of aligning too closely with a bloc perceived as adversarial to the West.

The meeting, however, highlights broader frustrations in the Global South, where many countries are seeking greater autonomy from Western-led institutions. Putin’s vision for BRICS aligns with Russia and China’s efforts to reduce reliance on Western financial systems, but for many members, the group remains a platform for economic cooperation rather than outright opposition to Western powers.