Modi and Xi to Meet at 18th BRICS Summit Amid Trade and Border Tensions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting in New Delhi during the 18th BRICS Summit. This meeting marks President Xi's first visit to India since 2019. In a sign of normalizing air services, China Southern Airlines announced the resumption of regular passenger flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi starting September 21, ending a six year hiatus. This follows previous resumptions of flights by Air India, IndiGo, and Air China earlier this year.

While the summit facilitates multilateral cooperation, diplomatic challenges remain. Shashi Tharoor, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, stated that India must prioritize national interests over collective goals. He emphasized the need to restore the status quo ante following the unprovoked transgression at Galwan which resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers. Tharoor also highlighted China's use of economic pressure by withholding essential industrial inputs such as power substations and rare earths.

Beyond China, India faces strategic dilemmas regarding Russia. Tharoor noted that India may need to prioritize energy security over Western trade access due to the volume of Russian crude oil imports, even if it risks American sanctions. Regarding the broader BRICS bloc, Tharoor cautioned against a joint push for de-dollarization that would favor the Chinese Yuan, suggesting bilateral local currency arrangements instead.

Reporting on the event varies by perspective. Center lean coverage focuses on the strategic complexities of foreign policy, emphasizing national security and the risks of economic dependency. Center-right lean coverage frames the event through the lens of normalizing relations, highlighting the resumption of commercial flights and the logistics of the diplomatic visit.