Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in bilateral talks in New Delhi on the sidelines of the upcoming BRICS Summit scheduled for September 12 and 13, 2026. The discussions focused on deepening cooperation across multiple sectors and addressing regional and global challenges.
According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the leaders exchanged views on their collaboration within the BRICS framework, especially under India’s chairmanship this year. They also discussed key issues including conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region, which have affected maritime trade and the security of Indian seafarers.
Strategic Partnership and Regional Issues
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia. The conversation covered a broad range of cooperation areas such as defense, energy, technology, pharmaceuticals, and people-to-people exchanges. This meeting marks Putin’s first in-person participation at a BRICS Summit outside Russia since February 2022.
BRICS Summit Context and Challenges
With BRICS now representing nearly 3.7 billion people and about 40% of global GDP, the bloc faces growing geopolitical tensions. The expanded membership, which includes 11 nations after recent additions like Iran, Egypt, and Ethiopia, reflects a broader Global South voice but also brings diverse geopolitical viewpoints that challenge consensus building.
Former UN diplomat Shashi Tharoor noted that the expansion has increased the bloc’s representativeness but also revealed contradictions, particularly on contentious topics such as Ukraine. At this year’s summit, these differences prevented agreement on specific language, leading India as chair to issue a statement summarizing discussions.
Other Key Summit Developments
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Delhi to participate in the summit, marking the first visit by an Iranian president to India in over eight years. He is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Modi to advance bilateral trade and strengthen ties amid Middle East tensions impacting global energy markets.
Meanwhile, Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal advocated for linking BRICS countries’ payment systems and promoting trade in local currencies to boost digital trade accessibility. He highlighted India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as a model for cross-border financial cooperation within the bloc.
Security Measures and Preparations in Delhi
As the summit approaches, Delhi has intensified security, deploying thousands of personnel. Schools in the city remain closed on September 11, and traffic regulations are in effect to accommodate the high-profile gathering. Modi is also set to meet other leaders including China’s Xi Jinping and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince during the summit.
