On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, initiating the 18th BRICS Summit under India’s leadership.
This high-profile meeting highlighted India’s growing diplomatic engagement as Modi introduced the guests against the backdrop of the iconic Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
The day prior, Modi had a busy schedule, conducting separate meetings with both Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. He also met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and addressed the BRICS Business Forum, underscoring India’s pivotal role in international diplomacy.
The meeting with Putin was the second encounter of the year for the two leaders. They previously met during the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek in August. These discussions allowed both leaders to review advancements in bilateral cooperation across various domains, including political, economic, and defence sectors.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, important topics during their discussions encompassed India’s chairmanship of BRICS and the engagement between India and Russia within the multilateral arena. They also tackled significant regional and global issues such as the ongoing conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region.
In a notable diplomatic breakthrough, a joint statement is set to be released by the BRICS nations during the ongoing summit. This consensus arrived after long hours of negotiations that stretched until 4 am on Saturday. India played a crucial role in these discussions, driving efforts to reconcile differing positions among the BRICS countries, ensuring that the summit paved way for cohesive policy direction.
