New Delhi’s BRICS diplomacy expands beyond the summit as India explores fresh opportunities in defence, investment, trade and strategic cooperation with key partners.
NEW DELHI , INDIA ; GTNS
SEPTEMBER 12, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of bilateral engagements with leaders from Ethiopia, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates in New Delhi on Saturday, as India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit.
The meetings formed part of an intensive diplomatic schedule surrounding the summit and reflected India’s effort to use the BRICS platform to deepen relationships across Africa, Southeast Asia and the Gulf region. Reports said the discussions with Ethiopia and Malaysia opened opportunities for greater cooperation in areas including defence, investment and emerging industries.
The engagements are significant for India’s wider economic and strategic outreach. Ethiopia is an important partner in Africa, while Malaysia provides India with a key link to Southeast Asia. The UAE, meanwhile, remains an important economic and strategic partner for India in the Gulf.
Focus on New Areas of Cooperation
The talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim come as India seeks to broaden partnerships beyond traditional areas of trade.
According to reports, defence cooperation, investment and advanced industrial sectors featured prominently in the discussions with Ethiopia and Malaysia. The meetings are expected to create additional space for private-sector partnerships and new economic opportunities.
For India, stronger engagement with Ethiopia can contribute to its broader Africa outreach, while deeper ties with Malaysia can support cooperation across trade, technology, manufacturing and regional connectivity.
UAE Partnership Adds Gulf Dimension
Modi’s engagement with the UAE leadership added an important Gulf dimension to the day’s diplomatic activity.
India and the UAE have developed extensive economic relations in recent years, with cooperation spanning trade, investment, energy, infrastructure and technology. The UAE is also an important partner for India in connecting its businesses and markets with the wider Gulf and Middle East region.
The UAE’s presence at the BRICS-related meetings further underlines the growing role of Gulf economies in the evolving Global South architecture.
BRICS as a Platform for Wider Diplomacy
India’s 2026 BRICS chairship has provided New Delhi with an opportunity to combine multilateral diplomacy with a wide range of bilateral engagements.
The 18th BRICS Summit brings together the leaders of the expanded grouping, while partner countries and international organisations are also participating in related programmes. The summit is being held in New Delhi on September 12–13.
The wider BRICS agenda includes economic cooperation, innovation, trade, supply-chain resilience and reforms in global governance. India has also placed emphasis on practical cooperation and strengthening partnerships among emerging economies.
India’s Global South Outreach
The meetings with Ethiopia, Malaysia and the UAE demonstrate the geographical breadth of India’s current diplomatic outreach.
From Africa and Southeast Asia to the Gulf, New Delhi is seeking to develop relationships based on trade, investment, technology, strategic cooperation and shared development priorities.
With several bilateral meetings scheduled around the BRICS Summit, India is using its chairship not only to advance the grouping’s collective agenda but also to build new channels of cooperation with individual countries.
The packed diplomatic schedule underlines the wider significance of the New Delhi summit: BRICS is increasingly serving as a platform where political dialogue, economic partnerships and broader Global South cooperation intersect.
INDIA ;
SEPTEMBER 12, 2026 , GTNS | NEW DELHI