In a shocking snub, two of the Commonwealth’s biggest players—India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa—ditched King Charles to rub shoulders with Vladimir Putin at the BRICS summit! While King Charles touched down in Samoa to chair the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, these two leaders were in Kazan, Russia, solidifying their ties with Putin in an open challenge to the West.
Modi and Ramaphosa’s decision to attend BRICS, instead of Commonwealth talks, speaks volumes. With BRICS rapidly expanding and flexing its geopolitical muscles, it’s clear that these leaders are putting their bets on emerging powers rather than traditional Western alliances. As India and South Africa cozy up to Putin, along with representatives from Malaysia and Sri Lanka, the Commonwealth appears fractured.
This bold move couldn’t come at a worse time for King Charles, who hoped to rally unity and strength within the Commonwealth. The BRICS bloc, now representing 45% of the global population, is fast becoming a powerhouse alternative to Western dominance, and Modi and Ramaphosa’s presence there is a slap in the face to any pretense of Commonwealth solidarity.
With Russia flaunting its ability to defy Western sanctions and bolster new alliances, this summit marks a turning point. As King Charles gathers his Commonwealth allies, Putin’s camp grows stronger—and the cracks in the Western order are starting to show.
