President Vladimir Putin meets Narendra Modi as India hosts BRICS Summit

President Vladimir Putin arrived in India early Friday for a three-day visit to attend the BRICS leaders’ summit and strengthen strategic ties with New Delhi.

On Friday afternoon, Putin met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bilateral talks focused on trade and energy.

Indian media, citing sources familiar with the talks, reported that the two leaders were expected to discuss plans to increase Russian-Indian trade to $100 billion by 2030, with greater cooperation in rail transit, steel production, critical minerals, fertilizers and nuclear energy.

The Kremlin said earlier this week that the possible sale of Russian Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jets to India was also on the agenda.

A delegation of more than 300 Russian business executives is accompanying Putin to New Delhi, with talks expected to focus on supply chains and food security.

Putin is scheduled to address the BRICS Business Forum later on Friday. The bloc’s main leaders’ plenary session will take place on Saturday, followed by an expanded session the following day with partner states and international organizations.

BRICS was established in 2009 as a forum for major emerging economies seeking a greater role in global affairs. The group has since expanded beyond its original members: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to include Ethiopia, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran and the UAE.

This year’s summit comes as the bloc seeks to strengthen its global role amid divisions among its members over the conflict between Iran and Israel, with Tehran and Abu Dhabi taking opposing positions.

Russia remains one of India’s largest energy suppliers. At the same time, New Delhi has sought to balance its longstanding strategic partnership with Moscow against pressure from Washington over its continued purchases of Russian crude.

Putin and Modi last met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan earlier this month. During the meeting, Modi said the war in Ukraine needed to end “for the sake of humanity” and expressed support for efforts to bring the conflict to an end.