Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to travel to India from September 11 to 13 to participate in the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, bringing the leaders of the two countries together for another high-level round of discussions.

The visit comes as India hosts the BRICS Leaders’ Summit under its 2026 chairmanship. The main leaders’ meeting is scheduled for September 12 and 13, with extensive preparations underway in the Indian capital.

Putin-Modi Meeting Expected

One of the key events surrounding the visit will be a bilateral meeting between Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Kremlin has confirmed that the two leaders are expected to meet on Friday, September 11, ahead of the main summit.

Their discussions are expected to cover important areas of the India-Russia relationship, including economic cooperation, energy and defence. Russia remains an important energy supplier to India, while both countries have maintained long-standing strategic ties.

BRICS Enters a New Phase

The New Delhi summit comes at a significant moment for BRICS. The grouping has expanded considerably in recent years, bringing additional economies into a forum originally centered around Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The expanded membership has increased BRICS’ global economic and political significance while also creating more complex differences among its members. The current geopolitical situation, particularly tensions involving Iran and the United Arab Emirates, could make reaching consensus more difficult.

Economic Cooperation on the Agenda

Trade and financial cooperation are expected to receive considerable attention during the summit. India is reportedly promoting greater interoperability between central bank digital currencies of BRICS members as a way of making cross-border payments faster and more efficient.

However, political, technological and financial differences among member countries could make implementation challenging. The proposal is being discussed as part of broader efforts to improve payment systems between BRICS economies.

Wider India-Russia Partnership

The Putin-Modi discussions are also expected to reinforce the broader strategic partnership between Moscow and New Delhi.

India and Russia have cooperation across areas including defence, energy, space, trade and technology. During their previous meeting in Bishkek, the two leaders reviewed progress in several of these sectors and discussed developments affecting their countries and the wider region.

Tight Security in New Delhi

New Delhi has significantly strengthened security arrangements ahead of the arrival of international leaders. Thousands of security personnel have been deployed around important locations, while special arrangements are being made for visiting heads of government.

Russian and Chinese security teams have already arrived in the capital as preparations continue for the leaders’ movements between the airport, hotels and summit venue.

A Significant Diplomatic Visit

Putin’s India visit comes at a time when BRICS is seeking to strengthen cooperation among an increasingly diverse group of countries. For India and Russia, the summit also provides an opportunity to maintain their long-standing strategic relationship while discussing new areas of economic and technological cooperation.

The meetings in New Delhi are therefore expected to attract considerable international attention as BRICS leaders discuss the future direction of the group and the changing global economic and geopolitical environment.