Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin have reaffirmed the strength of their bilateral relationship during meetings on the sidelines of the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The discussions, held Friday, focused on deepening cooperation across multiple sectors and addressing shared geopolitical concerns.
According to a statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the two leaders exchanged perspectives on their engagement within multilateral frameworks, with a specific focus on BRICS activities under India’s 2026 chairmanship. The dialogue also covered critical regional and global issues, including conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region, which have significantly affected maritime trade routes and the security of Indian seafarers.
The leaders committed to further strengthening the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” between New Delhi and Moscow. This visit marks a significant diplomatic moment, as it is Putin’s first in-person appearance at a BRICS Summit held outside of Russia since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Security measures in the Indian capital have been intensified in anticipation of the summit, which begins on September 12 and concludes on September 13. Thousands of security personnel have been deployed, and all schools in Delhi, including government and private institutions, remained closed on Friday. Traffic restrictions and diversions are in effect for the next three days, with authorities advising commuters to utilize the Metro system.
Alongside the Russian delegation, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Delhi for his first visit to India in over eight years. He is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi on Friday evening to discuss advancing two-way trade and broader ties, set against a backdrop of Middle Eastern tensions and global energy market volatility.
At the BRICS Business Forum, Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal proposed enhancements to digital trade infrastructure. He urged member nations to link their payment systems, promote local currency transactions, and leverage platforms like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to facilitate cross-border financial cooperation.
Former UN diplomat Shashi Tharoor observed that while the bloc’s expansion to 11 members has amplified its role as a voice for the Global South, internal contradictions persist. He noted that disagreements over issues such as the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine have previously prevented consensus on joint statements, leading India to issue a chair statement rather than a collective declaration in past summits.
Skeptical about consensus on Ukraine or Iran. Tharoor is right—internal contradictions often stall these groups from issuing joint declarations.
It is fascinating to see India playing mediator here while deepening ties with Moscow. A complex balancing act indeed.
The heavy security presence in Delhi is palpable. Closing schools for three days seems excessive for a summit, don’t you think?
Is this the first time Putin attended a BRICS summit outside Russia since 2022? I thought he skipped the South Africa one too.
Interesting that they focused on UPI linkage. Hopefully, local currency trade reduces reliance on dollars for both nations.