Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. ^[1] Richard Calland, a visiting associate professor at the Wits School of Governance, identifies 12 major systemic global trends that middle powers must respond to in the new era of great power competition. ^[2] Modi described India as a land of peace and a land of Buddha, calling for a peaceful solution to all matters as soon as possible. ^[3] Narendra Modi stated that every day the conflict in Ukraine continues makes humanity regress and urged an end to the war for the well-being of humanity. ^[4] Vladimir Putin has rejected all calls for a ceasefire according to the Kremlin. ^[5] Modi stated that every day the conflict continues hinders humanity, and that moving towards peace fills humanity with hope and enthusiasm. ^[6] Core membership of Brics has expanded to 11 countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, according to official Brics sources, though Saudi Arabia has yet to confirm its status. ^[7] India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chairs the Brics group at a time when the summit should be a diplomatic victory lap but presents one of Modi's toughest challenges. ^[8] The Brics summit is scheduled to run from September 12 to 13, with India chairing the group. ^[9] The summit will test India's diplomatic balancing act amid schisms over the Iran crisis and calls to replace the US dollar. ^[10] Eco-localists argue that globalization is authoritarian by nature because multinational corporations rule the world while individuals and communities remain powerless. ^[11] The author argues that using tariffs as a bargaining chip to extort concessions is incompatible with using them as a durable source of government income. ^[12]