PM Modi meets Putin, will meet Xi as India walks BRICS tighrope

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a 45-minute discussion at the BRICS summit venue, Bharat Mandapam, on Friday. The meeting focused on defense and energy ties, as well as efforts to increase bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. Putin emphasized Russia's commitment to contributing to global energy and food security, including the development of reliable logistics routes like the Arctic Transport Corridor.

On Saturday, Modi is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking the first such meeting between Indian and Chinese leaders in seven years. The talks are expected to address trade imbalances, with India seeking fair market access for its pharmaceuticals, IT, and agricultural sectors, as well as broader economic cooperation.

Both sides will also review recent boundary negotiations and work towards advancing discussions on border delimitation and management. The bilateral meetings highlight India's strategic balancing act, deepening ties with Russia while testing a fragile reset with China and maintaining its position as an independent player in a fragmented international order.