Three major global leaders — Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping — came together in New Delhi during the 18th BRICS Summit, drawing attention amid shifting geopolitical and economic equations.
Modi shared a picture of the three leaders together, with the Prime Minister in the centre and Putin and Xi on either side. The leaders were seen speaking and sharing a light moment during the summit.
Xi’s presence is particularly significant as he is visiting India after nearly seven years. His previous visit was in October 2019, when he met Modi for an informal summit in Mamallapuram.
The visit comes as India and China work to stabilise ties following tensions along the border since 2020. Modi and Xi are also scheduled to hold bilateral talks during the BRICS Summit, with border issues and economic and trade relations expected to feature in the discussions.
Modi and Putin also held bilateral talks ahead of the summit, reviewing cooperation in trade, defence, energy, space and industry. Regional conflicts, including developments in West Asia and the Black Sea region, were also discussed.
The expanded 11-member BRICS grouping is seeking a stronger role in global affairs. Modi has emphasised that the bloc should remain a consensus-driven platform rather than an alliance directed against any country.
With global conflicts, trade pressures and geopolitical alignments continuing to reshape international relations, the Modi-Putin-Xi moment has emerged as one of the most closely watched images from BRICS 2026.
