Empty Seats at the High Table: Why Xi Jinping and the UAE Crown Prince Skipped PM Modi’s BRICS Gala Dinner
Empty Seats at the High Table: Why Xi Jinping and the UAE Crown Prince Skipped PM Modi’s BRICS Gala Dinner The bustling energy of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi hit a temporary pause for intrigue when two prominent figures were notably missing from the high-profile gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin and a host of international delegates gathered at Bharat Mandapam to enjoy a stellar spread of Indian culinary delights—ranging from khumb galouti to millet pulao —Chinese President Xi Jinping and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan were absent from the banquet. Naturally, empty seats at a premier diplomatic dinner spark immediate curiosity and whispered speculation in global circles. Let’s break down what happened and the context behind their absence. 1. The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince: A Scheduled Departure For the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the reason for missing the evening festiviti...