{
  "id": 6835823,
  "title": "PM Modi meets Putin, will meet Xi as India walks BRICS tighrope",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/pm-modi-meets-putin-will-meet-xi-as-india-walks-brics-tighrope",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-12T01:30:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/india/modi-xi-jinping-vladimir-putin-meeting-brics-summit-trade-border-talks-10874320/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, engaging in a 45-minute discussion during the BRICS summit. On Saturday, Modi is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. The bilateral with Xi is particularly significant, given the history of geopolitical, economic, and military tensions between the two nations. Modi's schedule includes meetings with the leaders of Ethiopia, Malaysia, Abu Dhabi, and Vietnam as well.\n\nThe trade deficit between India and China has increased from $11 billion in 2019 to over $112 billion currently. Discussions between Modi and Xi will likely focus on this issue, as well as the strategic economic dialogue to address related concerns like Indian companies' access to Chinese markets and recent talks on border issues. The two leaders are expected to review progress on the $100 billion trade target by 2030.\n\nThe meeting between Modi and Putin centered on defense and energy ties, as well as the goal of increasing bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. Putin highlighted Russia's commitment to global energy and food security, as well as the development of reliable logistics routes, such as the Arctic Transport Corridor.\n\nThe India-Russia defense discussions covered potential upgrades to the BrahMos missile system, remaining S-400 deliveries, and a possible Su-57 fighter supply, indicating Russia's ongoing importance to India's defense sector. Both sides expanded civil nuclear cooperation, discussing additional reactors and broader collaboration in the nuclear fuel cycle and life-cycle support, while maintaining discounted Russian oil flows that support India's energy security.\n\nDuring their talks, Modi and Putin addressed conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region, discussing the safety of Indian seafarers and the impact on maritime trade and sea lanes. As chair of BRICS for 2026, India aims to promote practical cooperation in trade, finance, energy, critical minerals, and supply chains, seeking Russian support for this agenda. The Modi–Xi bilateral meeting in India this weekend marks the first such encounter in seven years, signaling a high-stakes test of whether the cautious thaw since Kazan can progress beyond border disengagement to broader stabilization.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Narendra Modi met Putin for 45-minute talks at BRICS summit",
    "Modi to meet Xi Jinping on Saturday, significant given historical tensions",
    "India's trade deficit with China increased to over $112 billion"
  ],
  "editors_take": "India's engagement with Russia and forthcoming talks with China signal its balancing act in strengthening economic and defense ties while navigating complex geopolitical relationships within BRICS.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "BRICS Summit 2026: China's Xi to meet Modi today",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/brics-summit-2026-chinas-xi-to-meet-modi-today",
        "published": "2026-09-11T12:22:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Zelensky calls on US to sanction Russia ‘now’ over deadly strikes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/zelensky-calls-on-us-to-sanction-russia-now-over-deadly-strikes",
        "published": "2026-09-11T22:09:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Jakarta Post",
        "title": "Modi, Putin seek stronger ties as Russia calls for BRICS to counter West",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/modi-putin-seek-stronger-ties-as-russia-calls-for-brics-to-counter",
        "published": "2026-09-12T00:05:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Anwar to meet Modi, leading Indian companies on Brics summit sidelines today",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/anwar-to-meet-modi-leading-indian-companies-on-brics-summit-sidelines",
        "published": "2026-09-12T01:04:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express - India",
        "title": "PM Modi meets Putin, will meet Xi as India walks BRICS tighrope",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/pm-modi-meets-putin-will-meet-xi-as-india-walks-brics-tighrope-6837453",
        "published": "2026-09-12T01:30:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "China to resume Delhi-Guangzhou direct flight after 6 years as Modi, Xi meet",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/china-to-resume-delhi-guangzhou-direct-flight-after-6-years-as-modi",
        "published": "2026-09-12T05:33:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}