Xi Jinping skips BRICS Summit, sparking speculation across diplomatic and geopolitical circles. His absence from this year’s gathering in Brazil marks a historic first. The Chinese president has never missed a BRICS meeting until now.
China claimed a scheduling conflict forced the decision. Officials added that Xi already met Brazil’s president earlier this year. However, critics aren’t convinced. Analysts argue the decision points to deeper domestic or international concerns.
Premier Li Qiang will attend the summit in Xi’s place. This continues a noticeable trend of Xi scaling back foreign appearances. Experts believe this move may signal political unrest within China.
China analyst Gordon Chang called Xi’s absence “extremely significant.” He suggested Xi may be facing internal challenges. Chang believes the Chinese leader is losing control of both military and political structures.
Similarly, other analysts echoed this view. For example, Bryan Burack of the Heritage Foundation said Xi Jinping skips BRICS Summit to avoid rising tensions. Recently, countries like Brazil and Indonesia imposed tariffs on Chinese goods. Consequently, these actions highlight ongoing trade conflicts and economic friction within the bloc.
Furthermore, Burack added that many BRICS nations feel harmed by China’s aggressive trade practices. Specifically, he pointed to industrial dumping and overcapacity as major concerns.
Tensions with India may have also influenced Xi’s decision. China and India have clashed along their border for decades. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi playing a leading role at the summit, Xi may have chosen to step back.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin plans only a video address. This leaves Modi and others to steer the meeting’s agenda. Once seen as a unified bloc, BRICS now appears fractured by divergent goals.
Economist Christian Briggs noted the group’s expanding influence. BRICS now includes 12 full members and controls vast global resources. Still, strategic and ideological divides prevent true cohesion.
The alliance has discussed launching its own currency. But analysts remain skeptical. Burack argued that their interests are too different. Chang dismissed the threat to the U.S. dollar entirely.
Briggs disagreed. He claimed BRICS is already shifting away from dollar-based systems. Still, these shifts lack full alignment among members. Xi Jinping skips BRICS Summit, but China remains active globally. Briggs suggested Xi doesn’t need to attend to assert dominance. China, he claimed, trades with nearly 80% of the world.
As the summit unfolds, questions about Xi’s absence linger. Does it reflect weakness or calculated confidence? Either way, BRICS faces an uncertain future with China at the center.
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