At the 16th BRICS Summit in Russia, a casual yet telling moment unfolded—Prime Minister Narendra Modi flashed a thumbs-up as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping engaged in conversation. This subtle gesture came during an informal dinner in Kazan, a scene laden with diplomatic undertones after India and China reached a significant agreement on patrol protocols at the contentious Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Captured in the visuals: President Xi, President Putin, and PM Modi at a concert before the dinner on October 22, 2024. The image, circulated widely by Reuters, epitomized a rare moment of camaraderie among the three leaders, their interactions reflecting broader geopolitical currents.
The meeting between Modi and Xi followed the announcement that India and China had resolved their long-standing military standoff at the LAC. The newly reached accord on patrolling arrangements signaled a potential thaw in relations, a welcome development after years of mounting tension.
This scene was more than just about India and China. It also underscored the tightening bond between China and Russia, whose alliance has grown noticeably stronger, especially since Russia's incursion into Ukraine. The visuals from Kazan portrayed Putin warmly greeting Modi with a handshake and a hug, a sign of the close rapport between the two leaders.
Meanwhile, the spotlight is on a much-anticipated bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi, scheduled for Wednesday, as confirmed by India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri. This face-to-face discussion is viewed as a breakthrough moment, potentially marking an end to over four years of fraught military standoff between the two neighboring giants.
Relations between India and China hit a perilous low after the fierce clashes in Galwan Valley in June 2020, the most severe military confrontation between the nations in decades. Yet, at the BRICS dinner, the seating arrangement—Putin flanked by Modi and Xi—hinted at a shift towards strengthened diplomatic ties among the three powers.
