Xi Jinping Set to Skip BRICS Summit Hosted by PM Modi
Chinese President Xi Jinping is reportedly set to skip the upcoming BRICS summit hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this year. This unexpected development casts a shadow over the multilateral grouping’s cohesion and underscores the widening diplomatic rift between the two Asian giants.
Xi’s Likely Absence Reflects Strained Relations
Tensions between India and China have been simmering since the 2020 border clashes in eastern Ladakh. Despite multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks, the situation remains unresolved. Xi’s decision not to attend the BRICS summit is being seen as a deliberate diplomatic signal—one that reflects Beijing’s reluctance to appear cooperative with New Delhi on a prominent international platform.
The absence of the Chinese President from a forum where all major leaders were expected also comes amid China’s increasing strategic closeness with Pakistan and assertiveness in regional affairs. It is widely interpreted as a move to downplay India’s growing influence within BRICS and beyond.
India Takes the Lead
Prime Minister Modi’s hosting of the BRICS summit was expected to be a major diplomatic event for India. With a focus on global south cooperation, sustainable development, digital innovation, and financial reforms, India had planned to use the platform to underline its growing leadership role on the world stage. Xi’s absence, however, could change the narrative and force a recalibration of summit priorities.
Even if China sends a lower-ranking official or special envoy in Xi’s place, the gesture would carry far less diplomatic weight and potentially undercut key bilateral discussions on trade, security, and economic partnerships.
Geopolitical Signals Beyond BRICS
The development is also significant in the context of India’s increasingly visible alignment with Western powers through platforms like the Quad, and its growing stature in forums such as the G20. China’s absence from a key event in India may also be a response to these evolving partnerships, signalling a competitive rather than collaborative posture in South Asia.
As India continues to champion multipolar world structures, Xi’s potential no-show may further expose the fault lines within BRICS—a group originally built to present a unified front of emerging economies.
