Putin and Xi Absent From Brazil BRICS Summit?

Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil in person. Putin is unable to travel because of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him, which means Brazil would have to arrest him if he sets foot in the country. To work around this, Putin will join the summit remotely via video call, with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attending in person. Meanwhile, Xi Jinping will also skip the summit, officially due to scheduling conflicts, and China’s Premier Li Qiang will represent the country instead.

Their absences mark a significant moment for the BRICS summit, as both leaders are key figures in the group. Putin’s situation highlights the legal and diplomatic challenges caused by the ICC warrant related to the conflict in Ukraine. Xi’s absence, though explained as a scheduling issue, adds to the uncertainty about the future dynamics within BRICS. With both leaders missing, the summit will see lower-level representation from two of its most influential members, potentially affecting the discussions and outcomes.

Source: Economic Times | Economic Times