On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Western powers of using increasingly aggressive tactics to protect their global influence as he called on BRICS countries to build a more independent economic platform.
Putin Accuses West of Protecting Its Global Leadership
Speaking at a BRICS business forum in New Delhi, Putin said Western countries were trying to reverse their declining influence by using economic and geopolitical pressure against competitors, Reuters reported.
“We have always been told that competition is a sacred cow, something that must not be touched,” Putin said. “Yet, unfortunately, today your Western competitors are trying by any means necessary to regain their former leadership.”
Putin argued that competition had increasingly moved beyond traditional economic rivalry, citing attacks on infrastructure and efforts to disrupt global trade routes.
“This competition is sometimes assuming unsightly forms,” he said, adding that it could include “direct physical attacks or the destruction of industrial and logistical facilities, pipelines, and so forth.”
Putin Urges BRICS to Push Back Against West
Putin also criticized restrictions targeting countries that refuse to follow Western policies, saying international transport corridors and shipping were being disrupted.
“Illegal restrictions are also being imposed, accompanied by threats of so-called secondary sanctions,” Putin said, arguing that such measures target countries defending their own national interests.
He said BRICS should respond by creating “a new, sustainable platform for global growth.”
The comments came as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Putin met in New Delhi ahead of the BRICS summit. The summit is set to bring together Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other leaders.
The meeting comes amid continued trade and shipping disruptions linked to the wars in Ukraine and Iran.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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