Putin to take Part in BRICS Summit in New Delhi in September
Russian President Vladimir Putin's India visit for the BRICS Summit will mark his second trip to the country in less than a year as New Delhi prepares to host leaders of emerging economies amid heightened geopolitical tensions
By R Anil Kumar
Moscow, May 19, 2026. Russia President Putin will attend the BRICS Summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi on Sept. 12-13, 2026, Russia’s state-run news agency TASS reported, citing Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
“Putin will definitely take part in the BRICS 2026 Summit in New Delhi,” Peskov said, according to TASS. The visit will mark the Russian president’s second trip to India in less than a year.
India is set to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi under its Presidency of the bloc.
The summit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, including ongoing tensions in West Asia involving the U.S. and Iran.
Putin last visited India in December 2025, when he held talks with PM Narendra Modi during the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. The visit also marked the 25th anniversary of the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
Separately, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow is preparing to host Prime Minister Modi on a return visit later this year.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed that he will pay a return visit to Russia this year. We will prepare for this summit as well,” Lavrov said after the BRICS ministers’ meeting in New Delhi, according to TASS.
Lavrov also underlined the depth of India-Russia ties, saying cooperation between the two countries spans several sectors.
“We want our especially privileged strategic partnership to continue developing effectively across all areas,” he said.
BRICS currently comprises 11 emerging economies, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The grouping focuses on political, economic and strategic cooperation among major developing nations.
Vladimir Putin to visit India for BRICS Summit from September 12 to 13
Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to New Delhi for the BRICS Summit scheduled to be held on September 12 and 13, Kremlin confirmed.
The visit comes amid deepening strategic and defence cooperation between India and Russia. It will mark Putin’s second visit to India within a year, underlining the continued high-level engagement between the two countries.
Putin had earlier visited India in December for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit in December 2025, during which he held extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on expanding bilateral cooperation across key sectors.
India and Russia follow an annual summit mechanism under which the Prime Minister and the Russian President review the full spectrum of bilateral ties. So far, 23 such summits have been held, alternating between the two countries.
The 2025 meeting was significant as it marked President Vladimir Putin’s first visit to India since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022. Prior to that, Putin had last visited New Delhi in 2021.
The announcement regarding Putin’s upcoming visit comes days after Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov visited New Delhi for a high-stakes meeting of BRICS foreign ministers, chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
The upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi is expected to focus on global security challenges, economic cooperation and strengthening a multipolar world order.
INDIA-RUSSIA RELATIONS:
India and Russia maintain a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” anchored by historical trust, defense ties, and energy trade. Despite shifting global dynamics, the two nations continue to collaborate extensively across defense, space, nuclear energy, and economic sectors while supporting a multipolar world order.
Defense and Security
Russia remains one of India’s primary defense partners, shifting from a buyer-seller model to joint research and production.
Military Hardware: Major platforms—such as the Su-30MKI aircraft, T-90 tanks, and the BrahMos cruise missile system—are central to India’s military.
Joint Exercises: The armed forces regularly participate in joint military drills, such as the INDRA naval exercises.
Trade and Energy
Bilateral trade and economic engagement have expanded significantly, largely driven by energy imports.
Oil Imports: India increased its purchases of discounted Russian crude oil, cementing Russia as a top supplier to the Indian market.
Trade Target: The two nations are actively working towards a bilateral trade target of $100 billion by 2030,which includes progressing toward an India-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement.
Geopolitical Cooperation and Connectivity
Both countries frequently align their interests on the global stage.
Multilateral Forums: India and Russia cooperate closely in groups like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Russia also consistently supports India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
Connectivity Corridors: Efforts are underway to operationalize and expand trade routes like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), the Northern Sea Route, and the Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor.
Cultural and Diplomatic Ties
Diplomatic channels at the highest levels remain highly active, with annual summits serving to iron out challenges and deepen bilateral trust. At the cultural level, Indian cinema and Yoga remain immensely popular in Russia, while institutions like the Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre in Moscow facilitate strong people-to-people connections.
