Modi and Xi to Meet Amidst Border Breakthrough at BRICS Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping during the BRICS summit in Russia. This meeting comes shortly after a significant agreement was reached on military disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, ending a four-year standoff. The bilateral talks will be their first formal engagement since tensions escalated in 2020. Both leaders previously had brief encounters at earlier international gatherings, but the upcoming dialogue is seen as crucial for future relations between the two nations.

The breakthrough in the Ladakh region is being hailed as a diplomatic achievement, where both sides agreed to withdraw troops and initiate more structured patrolling along disputed areas. This development followed years of military face-offs, with both countries strengthening their forces along the LAC since mid-2020. According to analysts, resolving the military impasse marks an important step in stabilizing relations, though deeper geopolitical challenges remain.

The BRICS summit, hosted in Russia, is expected to witness a range of discussions focused on economic cooperation and global security. The Modi-Xi bilateral engagement, however, stands out as the most significant, given the complexity of Sino-India relations. Issues likely to be discussed include the broader geopolitical dynamics, trade disputes, and regional security concerns, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.