President Putin Arrives in New Delhi as India Prepares to Host BRICS Summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in New Delhi for a three-day visit as India prepares to host the 18th BRICS Summit. His arrival on September 11 comes ahead of the main BRICS leaders’ engagements scheduled in the Indian capital, making the visit an important diplomatic event for both India and Russia.

Putin’s visit is expected to place India-Russia relations at the centre of several high-level discussions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold talks with the Russian president, with the two sides expected to review their longstanding strategic partnership and discuss opportunities to expand cooperation in key sectors.

Defence is likely to remain an important part of the India-Russia engagement. The two countries have maintained extensive defence ties over several decades, including cooperation in military platforms, equipment, technology and production. Alongside defence, discussions are expected to cover energy, trade, investment, space, technology and industrial cooperation.

The visit also comes at a time when India is seeking to deepen economic engagement with Russia. While defence and energy have traditionally formed major components of bilateral ties, New Delhi and Moscow have been exploring ways to increase cooperation in manufacturing, technology, transportation and other commercial sectors.

During his stay, Putin is also expected to participate in engagements linked to the BRICS Business Forum and INNOPROM India 2026. These events are aimed at encouraging business and industrial partnerships and could provide additional opportunities for Indian and Russian companies to explore investment and technology cooperation.

The Russian president’s India visit follows his recent interaction with Prime Minister Modi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek on August 31. The two leaders had discussed several areas of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on issues of international and regional importance. Their latest meeting in New Delhi is expected to build on those discussions.

Putin’s visit also comes as India takes on an important role within the BRICS grouping. New Delhi is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit under its 2026 chairship, with the country highlighting resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability as key themes. The summit is expected to bring together leaders from the expanded BRICS membership to discuss economic development, global governance and issues affecting developing countries.

The international situation will also form an important backdrop to the discussions. The continuing conflict in Ukraine, tensions in West Asia and broader shifts in global economic and strategic relations have increased the importance of diplomatic engagement among major powers. India has continued to maintain dialogue with different countries while advocating peaceful resolution of international disputes.

Putin’s arrival in New Delhi therefore comes at a significant moment for India’s foreign policy and its relationship with Moscow. The upcoming Modi-Putin talks, together with the BRICS summit, are expected to provide an opportunity to assess existing cooperation and explore new areas of partnership between India and Russia.