Bangladesh, June 11 -- In a pointed statement aimed at Western-led international institutions, Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed the growing role of BRICS as a platform for building a new model of global cooperation-one that he described as “free from all forms of discrimination, dictate, and sanction pressure.” The remarks, conveyed through a letter to participants of the upcoming St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), underscore the Kremlins ambition to position BRICS as a cornerstone of a multipolar world order that counters what Moscow sees as the hegemonic practices of the United States and its allies.

The 28th edition of SPIEF, set to take place from June 18 to 21, is expected to draw thousands o...