Xi Jinping to Skip BRICS Summit for the First Time
Rio de Janeiro: The 17th BRICS Summit began on Sunday in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, bringing together leaders of key emerging economies. However, for the first time since he came to power in 2012, Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the meeting.
Instead, Chinese Premier Li Qiang is attending on his behalf. While Beijing has cited “scheduling issues,” experts believe there could be deeper reasons behind Xi’s absence.
Why Xi’s Absence Matters
Xi has used BRICS as a platform to challenge Western dominance and present China as a global leader, especially to countries in the Global South. His decision to skip the summit comes at a crucial time, as the group is expected to strongly criticize U.S. trade policies and discuss reducing Western influence.
China is currently facing economic problems at home and tensions with the U.S. Some analysts say Xi might be focusing more on domestic matters ahead of an important political meeting in China.
Russia’s Putin Missing Too
Russian President Vladimir Putin, a close ally of China, is also not attending in person. He will join via video call. Putin faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Since Brazil is a member of the ICC, attending in person could risk legal complications.
Changes in BRICS
BRICS was started in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. In 2024, the group expanded to include Egypt, the UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran. This growth has made the group less united, with different countries having different priorities.
Experts say that this expansion may have weakened BRICS’ original vision as a strong alternative to Western powers like the G7. It could be one reason why both Xi and Putin are staying away this year.
Brazil’s New Focus
Brazil, which is hosting the summit, wants to shift the group’s focus. Instead of just criticizing the West, Brazil hopes to steer discussions toward key global issues like green energy, vaccine cooperation, and fair trade rules. This may not align with China and Russia’s more political agenda.
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