Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Delhi to attend BRICS Summit, bilateral meetings

Russian President Vladimir Putin touched down in New Delhi on Friday in preparation for the upcoming 18th BRICS Summit, which India is set to host. Upon his arrival, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh extended a warm welcome. The visit will see Putin engaging in high-level discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, alongside a series of bilateral meetings throughout his stay.

President Putin's trip aims to strengthen the economic ties between Russia and India, which have been somewhat unbalanced in recent times. During his stay, Putin will also participate in the inaugural India-Russia International Industrial Trade Fair, currently taking place in Delhi.

To ensure the smooth conduct of the summit, security measures have been heightened at various hotels in Delhi’s Chanakyapuri neighborhood. Notably, Chinese President Xi Jinping is also slated to arrive in the city on September 12.

The talks between Putin and Modi are expected to cover a range of critical topics, including strategic trade resilience, cross-border payment systems, energy security, and methods to resolve disputes arising from geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe and West Asia.

According to the Kremlin, Putin will address the plenary session of the annual BRICS Business Forum on September 11. Additionally, he will meet with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the same day for a bilateral session.