Leaders from around the world are meeting in Russia this week for a major event called the BRICS summit. This group includes countries like Russia, India, China, and others who want to work more closely together on money and trade.

Before the main meeting started, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi sat down for private talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and the President of Iran.

Russia is using this meeting to try and pull these countries closer. President Putin wants the BRICS group to act as a counterweight to the West—meaning countries like the U.S. and those in Europe.

During the meetings, both Russia and Iran complained about the economic sanctions they face. Sanctions are rules that stop countries from trading easily with the rest of the world. They want the BRICS countries to create new ways to trade so they don't have to rely on the West anymore.

President Putin also pointed out that the combined economies of the BRICS nations now make up a huge part of the world’s money, claiming they are outperforming the G7 nations—a group that includes the U.S., the UK, and other wealthy Western countries.

India is in a tricky spot. They are part of BRICS, but they also have strong ties with Western nations. Experts say India is working hard to balance these relationships, keeping its friendship with Russia while also staying friendly with the West.

This summit is a big deal because it shows that some of the world's largest countries are trying to build their own economic system, separate from the one that has been led by the West for a long time.

Source: AP News