Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Russia next week to attend the BRICS summit of India, Russia, China, Brazil, and South Africa. This was stated by the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday. The 16th BRICS Summit will be held in Kazan on October 22-23.

In addition to trade and development, the war situation in Ukraine and West Asia is also expected to be discussed in the BRICS this time. This will be Modi's second visit to Russia in four months. In July this year, he went to Vladimir Putin's country. Sources in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that Modi and Putin are likely to hold talks on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.

According to a section of diplomatic experts, the aim of China and Russia is to create an international bloc equivalent to the US-led G7, which will be in their hands. That is, to create a strong axis against America in the style of old bloc politics. Diplomatic circles believe that most of the BRICS countries are part of the anti-Western coalition. China, Russia, and South Africa voted against Israel over the situation in Gaza at the United Nations. India abstained from voting.

Modi did not attend the virtual BRICS summit on the Gaza situation in November. New Delhi was instead represented by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. In August last year, six countries were invited to join the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, following China's proposal. In Asia, the list includes Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Ethiopia in Africa, as well as the South American country of Argentina. In this context, Modi's participation in the BRICS summit on Russian soil is considered a'significant' decision.