Putin Arrives in New Delhi for 3-Day India Visit Ahead of BRICS Summit
Putin is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit, with discussions expected to cover trade, investment, energy, defence, technology and other areas of cooperation.
Siddhaanth Raghav
Putin Arrives in New Delhi for 3-Day India Visit Ahead of BRICS Summit
NEW DELHI, September 11, 2026 — Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Friday for a three-day visit to India ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit, marking an important moment in the longstanding India-Russia strategic partnership.
Putin is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit, with discussions expected to cover trade, investment, energy, defence, technology and other areas of cooperation.
Putin Receives Welcome in New Delhi
Putin was received in New Delhi by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh. His arrival comes ahead of the BRICS leaders' summit, which India is hosting on September 12 and 13.
The visit is particularly significant because it is Putin's first in-person participation at a BRICS summit outside Russia since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022.
Modi-Putin Talks to Focus on Bilateral Ties
The Russian president is expected to meet Prime Minister Modi on Friday afternoon for wide-ranging bilateral discussions.
The two leaders are expected to review cooperation in **defence, energy, trade, investment, technology, pharmaceuticals and other sectors**. Regional and global developments are also likely to feature in their discussions.
The meeting follows their recent conversation on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, where they reviewed progress across the India-Russia relationship.
Defence and Energy Among Key Areas
Defence cooperation remains an important part of the India-Russia relationship, while energy has become another major pillar of bilateral economic ties.
The two countries have also been working to expand trade and investment. India and Russia have maintained close economic engagement despite wider geopolitical tensions and international pressure on Moscow.
The visit is therefore expected to provide an opportunity for both governments to assess ongoing projects and explore new areas of cooperation.
Putin to Attend 18th BRICS Summit
Following his bilateral engagements, Putin will participate in the 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit in New Delhi.
The expanded BRICS grouping includes 11 full members, bringing together major emerging economies from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. Leaders attending the summit include Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, among others.
India has placed issues including economic resilience, energy, food security, health, disaster management and critical supply chains among the areas of focus for its BRICS presidency.
Global Tensions Add Significance
Putin's visit comes at a time of heightened international tensions, including the continuing Russia-Ukraine conflict, instability in West Asia and growing competition between major global powers.
The BRICS summit will give India an opportunity to engage simultaneously with Russia, China, Iran and other major partners while maintaining its broader diplomatic relationships.
The gathering is also expected to address efforts to increase economic cooperation among BRICS members and reduce vulnerabilities in global trade and financial systems.
India-Russia Partnership Remains Important
The visit comes less than two weeks after Modi and Putin met at the SCO Summit in Bishkek. During that meeting, the two leaders reviewed political, economic, defence, energy, space and other areas of cooperation.
India's Ministry of External Affairs has described the relationship as a **Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership**, emphasizing its resilience despite changing geopolitical circumstances.
Putin's three-day visit and his meeting with Modi will therefore be closely watched for announcements on bilateral cooperation as well as their positions on major international issues.
With the BRICS Summit beginning in New Delhi this weekend, the Russian president's arrival sets the stage for a series of high-level diplomatic meetings that could shape discussions on trade, energy, security and the evolving global order.
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