PM Modi Takes Centre Stage as China’s Xi Jinping Misses BRICS Summit

July 3, 2025: As the BRICS bloc convenes in Brazil for its annual summit, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to lead the 10-member group amid the notable absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This year’s summit is historic, marking the first time since BRICS’ founding in 2009 that Xi has skipped the meeting. Premier Li Qiang will lead the Chinese delegation, while Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The expanded group, which now includes Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE, and Indonesia, faces heightened expectations for practical cooperation and unity.

India and Brazil are seen as key drivers of the summit agenda. With Modi slated to host and chair the 2026 summit, New Delhi is positioned to shape BRICS’ evolving role amid a shifting global geopolitical landscape.

Despite speculation about Xi’s absence being influenced by prior meetings with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Modi’s forthcoming state dinner invitation, Indian officials have downplayed the significance, emphasizing Modi’s participation as a sign of solidarity and a chance to deepen ties within the Global South.

The expanded bloc’s members have yet to find full consensus on sensitive issues like UN Security Council reform and the bloc’s stance on the US dollar. While a prior joint push for permanent UNSC seats failed to yield agreement, BRICS unified to condemn US-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year.

India is expected to advocate for stronger counterterrorism language in the final declaration, particularly in light of recent terror attacks like the Pahalgam incident and ongoing operations against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK. However, China is likely to resist such language, seeking to shield its close ally Pakistan.

With internal divisions a potential risk, Brazil is steering the summit toward common ground topics such as healthcare, green energy, and fair trade. Behind the scenes, security and counterterrorism discussions continue.

The success of the Rio summit—and the future cohesion of BRICS—may hinge on Modi’s ability to unite the diverse group of leaders and members as the bloc navigates new challenges and opportunities in a rapidly changing world.