New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on Friday for wide-ranging bilateral talks during the BRICS Summit here, with both leaders placing significant emphasis on deepening economic, defence, and energy cooperation between the two nations.
Putin arrived in the Indian capital on Thursday evening to kick off his three-day visit, which centres around the BRICS gathering. The encounter with Modi marked one of the most anticipated diplomatic meetings of the summit, given the strategic importance of the India-Russia relationship and the desire of both countries to expand their partnership beyond traditional boundaries.
Sources close to the discussion indicated that the primary focus of the talks will centre on raising bilateral trade between India and Russia to USD 100 billion by the year 2030. This target was first established by the two governments as part of their long-term economic vision and remains a key priority despite fluctuating global market conditions and geopolitical pressures.
Defence cooperation featured prominently on the agenda, as India continues to rely heavily on Russian military hardware for its armed forces. The two leaders are expected to discuss ways to expand joint manufacturing initiatives under India's 'Make in India' programme, potentially including the production of defence equipment on Indian soil that could serve not only the Indian military but also export markets.
Energy partnerships were also likely high on the list, with Russia being one of India's largest suppliers of crude oil. Analysts note that energy security remains a critical concern for India, and maintaining steady and affordable energy imports from Russia has been a cornerstone of New Delhi's foreign policy balancing act.
Discussions were also expected to touch upon critical minerals cooperation, an area gaining renewed significance as India seeks to build a robust domestic battery and electronics manufacturing ecosystem. Russia holds substantial reserves of rare earth and other critical minerals that could complement India's growing industrial ambitions.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had provided preliminary remarks on the talks before Putin's arrival, signaling Moscow's enthusiasm for strengthening ties across multiple domains. The nature of the India-Russia relationship continues to draw international attention, particularly given the evolving dynamics of the Ukraine conflict and the sanctions regime imposed on Russia by Western nations.
The bilateral meeting takes place against a backdrop of broader BRICS expansion, with several new member nations joining the grouping in recent years. Analysts suggest that India's participation in BRICS forums provides it with additional platforms to advance its economic and strategic interests while maintaining its multi-aligned foreign policy approach.
Both leaders are expected to hold follow-up discussions with their respective delegations later in the weekend before Putin departs for other BRICS-related engagements.
