NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened high-level bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi on September 11, 2026, marking the Russian leader’s arrival for a three-day official visit to headline the 18th BRICS Summit.
The summit—the second in-person encounter between the two heads of state in less than two weeks—prioritized strategic defense collaboration, trade resilience, and peaceful conflict resolution across global flashpoints.
Core Bilateral & Strategic Directives
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Multilateral Engagement Context: Follows the leaders’ recent summit on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek on August 31. President Putin’s visit marks his first in-person participation at a BRICS summit hosted outside Russia since February 2022.
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Defense & Economic Partnership: Reassessed prospective and ongoing joint defense projects alongside bilateral cooperation in economic, energy, space, skill mobility, and political domains.
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Regional Conflict & Maritime Security: Addressed the impact of conflicts in the Middle East and the Black Sea region on global supply chains, international shipping corridors, and the safety of Indian maritime personnel.
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Diplomatic Strategy: Reaffirmed India’s commitment to diplomatic engagement and dialogue as the primary pathway toward resolving regional hostilies.
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BRICS Presidency Integration: Serves as the key bilateral engagement preceding the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, held under India’s 2026 BRICS Chairmanship.
