NEW DELHI — GTNS, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 — Russian President Vladimir Putin is arriving in New Delhi late Thursday ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit, with his scheduled engagement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to be one of the closely watched meetings during the summit.
Putin’s visit comes as India prepares to host the two-day BRICS gathering on September 12 and 13, bringing together leaders and senior representatives of major emerging economies.
According to the programme, Modi and Putin are expected to meet on Friday afternoon, with the discussions likely to cover the India-Russia strategic partnership as well as major regional and global developments.
The meeting is expected to give both leaders an opportunity to review progress in bilateral relations, including trade, energy, defence cooperation, investment, technology and connectivity.
The talks are also significant against the backdrop of changing global geopolitical and economic alignments. India has continued to maintain close relations with Russia while simultaneously expanding its engagement with the United States, Europe and other major powers.
Putin’s presence at the BRICS Summit will also bring additional attention to the grouping’s discussions on economic cooperation, development, global governance and the evolving international financial system.
The Russian President is among several high-profile international leaders expected in New Delhi. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to participate, adding further importance to the diplomatic engagements surrounding the summit.
For India, the Modi-Putin meeting will be closely watched for signals on the future trajectory of the two countries’ longstanding strategic partnership and their approach to a rapidly changing global order.
As New Delhi moves into the final preparations for the summit, Putin’s arrival marks the beginning of a major phase of high-level diplomatic engagements in the Indian capital.