The 2024 BRICS Summit will commence today in Kazan, Russia, in one of the preeminent policy meetings in the world. The summit is expected to focus on a variety of strategies to increase the intergovernmental organization’s influence and maximize economic efficiency so that it can continue to compete against the economies of Western nations.

The Kremlin will be able to talk to major players like India and China about expanding trade and bypassing Western sanctions. India is an important market for Russian commodities, while China is where Moscow hopes to source dual-use and various military-related goods, Mr Gabuyev said.

Nearly three years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine saw Moscow condemned by countries globally, leader Vladimir Putin is staging a summit with more than a dozen world leaders – in a pointed signal from the autocrat that far from being alone,