Trump arrives in Beijing for high-stakes meeting with Xi Jinping; BRICS divisions deepen over Iran war

The latest edition of Statecraft covers major geopolitical shifts as US President Donald Trump arrives in Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit, occurring amid the ongoing West Asia conflict and the Strait of Hormuz blockade, focusses on trade, tariffs, and the Iran war. Reports suggest Russian President Vladimir Putin may also visit China shortly after. Meanwhile, the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi faces internal divisions over the Iran conflict. Iran is demanding a unified statement condemning the United States and Israel, while other member nations like the UAE hold opposing regional alignments, complicating India's push for consensus. In domestic defence news, visuals from Gujarat indicate that the first domestically assembled Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft is nearing rollout from the Tata Airbus facility in Vadodara. This marks a significant milestone for India's defence manufacturing sector and the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.