New Delhi, 11 September (H.S.): Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in India to participate in the BRICS Summit. Putin’s aircraft landed in New Delhi at around 3 a.m. He was received at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs K.V. Singh. Following a red-carpet welcome and a guard of honour, Putin’s convoy departed from the airport. He is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. The Russian president will stay at the Maurya Sheraton Hotel in the national capital, Delhi.

BRICS is a major international organisation comprising some of the world’s leading emerging economies. Since the Ukraine war began in February 2022, this marks Putin’s first in-person participation in a global event being held outside Russia. During the bilateral talks, several defence agreements could be discussed, including the Su-57 fighter jet and an updated version of the BrahMos missile.

The heads of state and government of various countries visiting India for the BRICS Summit will also hold bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the summit.

The visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the outcome of his talks with Prime Minister Modi are expected to have a bearing on cooperation among BRICS countries amid volatile global circumstances, particularly the situation in West Asia and the Ukraine war. The Modi-Xi and Modi-Putin meetings are being closely watched around the world, as countries unsettled by the decisions of US President Donald Trump are keen to see an easing of tensions between China and India.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov have also arrived in New Delhi to attend the BRICS Summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping will arrive in Delhi on the afternoon of September 12. India is hosting the BRICS Summit this year.

Who are the BRICS members?

In addition to Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, five more countries—Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—joined BRICS in 2024. In 2025, Indonesia was also admitted to the group. As a result, representatives of all 11 member countries will arrive in India’s national capital for the summit.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar