Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to hold two high-level meetings within a span of two weeks, bringing renewed attention to the India-Russia strategic partnership. Putin indicated that he expects to meet Modi at the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, followed by another meeting at the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
The SCO leaders’ summit is scheduled to take place in Bishkek on August 31 and September 1, while India will host the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. The two meetings could provide an important platform for the leaders to discuss bilateral ties as well as major regional and international developments.
Putin discussed the expected engagements with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during their meeting in Moscow on August 24. Jaishankar conveyed a personal message from Prime Minister Modi expressing his interest in meeting Putin at the SCO summit and welcoming him to India for the BRICS gathering.
The expected meetings come as India and Russia continue to expand cooperation across several strategic and economic areas. During Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow, the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission reviewed cooperation covering trade, investment, energy, fertilisers, nuclear power, connectivity, technology, space and skilled-worker mobility.
Economic relations have become an increasingly important part of the bilateral partnership. Trade between India and Russia expanded substantially over the past five years, although the figures recorded a decline in FY2026 from the previous year. India has also been seeking to increase its exports to Russia and address the large trade imbalance between the two countries. Both sides have set an ambitious target of taking bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030.
Energy remains another major area of cooperation. Russia has emerged as one of India’s key crude oil suppliers, while Moscow has also indicated its willingness to increase fertiliser shipments to India. Cooperation in nuclear power, high technology, defence and space continues to form part of the wider strategic relationship.
The upcoming Modi-Putin engagements are also significant because they come amid a complex global geopolitical environment. India continues to maintain its long-standing relationship with Moscow while simultaneously strengthening its partnerships with the United States, Europe and other major powers. The discussions at the SCO and BRICS summits could therefore offer an opportunity for both leaders to review their shared interests and the evolving international landscape.
The meetings at the SCO and BRICS summits should not be confused with the separate India-Russia Annual Summit mechanism. The next annual summit has not yet been scheduled, although both countries have indicated their intention to continue the established high-level dialogue. Putin’s expected meeting with Modi in New Delhi would nevertheless provide another important opportunity to reinforce bilateral engagement before the end of the year.
With Modi and Putin potentially meeting twice in a short period, the upcoming summits are likely to be closely watched for indications about the future direction of India-Russia relations. Defence cooperation, energy security, trade, technology and broader strategic coordination are expected to remain important areas of discussion as both countries seek to deepen their longstanding partnership.
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