Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit India from 11 to 13 September to participate in the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

His agenda includes a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and an address at the BRICS Business Forum, marking significant diplomatic and economic engagements during the summit.

The Kremlin confirmed that Putin’s visit is a working trip coinciding with the 20th anniversary of BRICS. The main summit will take place on 12 and 13 September under India’s chairship. On 11 September, Putin will deliver a speech at the plenary session of the BRICS Business Forum, a platform that traditionally precedes the leaders’ summit and facilitates dialogue among business representatives from BRICS nations.

On the same day, Putin will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi. Both leaders are also expected to jointly visit the INNOPROM exhibition, organised by the industry and trade ministries of Russia and India. The Kremlin statement highlighted that these engagements will strengthen trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Russia’s state-run TASS news agency reported that Putin will arrive in India on the evening of 10 September. Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov stated that Putin will present initiatives on trade, economic, investment and transport cooperation during the BRICS Business Forum. Ushakov also confirmed that several bilateral meetings are planned on the sidelines of the summit, with the first major engagement being the meeting with Prime Minister Modi on 11 September.

Ushakov emphasised the importance of the personal relationship between Modi and Putin, noting that Moscow highly values the rapport between the two leaders. He also indicated that Modi could visit Russia in 2027 if his schedule does not permit a visit before the end of this year, leaving the door open for future high-level engagements.

Putin’s schedule includes meetings with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, BRICS New Development Bank head Dilma Rousseff, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 

Discussions with Rousseff will focus on Russia’s interaction with the bank, financing projects in Russia’s interests, and implementing broader BRICS financial and economic initiatives, including a new investment platform proposed by Russia in 2024.

Talks with Ramaphosa are expected to cover bilateral cooperation and international issues, while discussions with Abiy Ahmed will address bilateral relations and regional topics, including the Middle East and Iran. Moscow is also exploring a possible meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Ushakov confirmed that the situation in the Middle East, particularly Iran, will be a key subject in Putin’s bilateral discussions.

A full-scale bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is not currently planned, though both leaders will have opportunities to interact during the summit. Putin does not intend to hold a press conference for the Kremlin pool after the summit.

The main program of the BRICS Summit will begin on 12 September, with leaders expected to discuss India’s presidency initiatives and prospects for strengthening the BRICS strategic partnership. Discussions will span politics and security, economics and finance, and cultural and humanitarian ties. Leaders will also exchange views on pressing international and regional issues.

An expanded BRICS meeting will take place on 13 September, bringing together heads of delegation from member states, partner nations, and invited international organisations.

The summit’s final document will reflect the main agreements reached. India’s chairship has prioritised cooperation in trade, digital technology, finance, energy security and global governance reform.

Key topics include resilient supply chains, cross-border payment integration, greater use of national currencies, MSME development, digital trade and artificial intelligence.

Energy security, climate resilience, development finance, expansion of the New Development Bank and reforms of multilateral institutions are also expected to feature prominently.

The expanded BRICS grouping now includes 11 members: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Indonesia joined as a full member in 2025. The wider BRICS framework also encompasses 10 partner nations: Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Putin’s participation, combining bilateral engagements with Modi, an address to the BRICS business community and meetings with leaders from member and partner countries, underscores the strategic importance of Russia’s role in India’s BRICS summit diplomacy.

ANI